Sourdough Tangzhong Bread #BreadBakers

This Sourdough Tangzhong Bread is flavorful with a wonderful texture, perfect for eating on its own or toasted with butter and jam. Start a day or two ahead of when you want to bake for the best flavor.

Like many of us, I took the lockdown days of this pandemic as an opportunity to create a sourdough starter. I did have one before we left Dubai but I am not a dedicated enough owner to try to transport it in an airplane. The more devoted among you will probably be horrified to hear that I tipped my unnamed starter out, washed the jar and didn’t even feel guilty. 

That said, I’ve been enjoying this one in a variety of recipes. You might want to try my sourdough pancakes or sourdough chocolate Bundt cake. Both delicious. Still haven’t named my starter yet though, just in case it needs to go at some point. Or I kill it. 

As for the tangzhong, I learned all about it when I made my first loaf with the method, a rye bread where it came in very handy to add structure and substance. When the flour you are using is low in gluten, like rye, knowing how to make a tangzhong is a very good thing! Making it in the microwave was such a breeze that I’ll never do it any other way now. 

N.B. An accurate thermometer is essential for this recipe. 

Sourdough Tangzhong Bread

This recipe is adapted from one on Food Geek. The author says his is not a recipe for beginners so I simplified it. While I didn’t get as airy a loaf as he did, we were super pleased with the flavor and texture. 

Ingredients for two round loaves

For the tangzhong:

1/2 cup or 64g bread flour

1 cup + 2 1/2 tablespoons or 275ml water

For the dough:

4 1/4 cups or 540g bread flour

1 1/3 cups or 170g whole-grain wheat flour

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 2/3 cups or 380ml water

Tangzhong 

3/4 cup or 170g sourdough starter

Method

Make tangzhong by mixing the flour and water with a whisk in a microwaveable bowl. 

Microwave on high until the mixture is above 149°F or 65°C. It took about 1 minute and 40 seconds in my 1000W microwave. Whisk halfway through then whisk again at the end. Your tangzhong will be thick and glossy. 

Set the tangzhong aside to cool to at least 86°F or 30°C.

To make the dough, add 4 1/4 cups or 531g bread flour, 172g whole-grain wheat flour, and 16g salt to the bowl of your stand mixer. 

Add 1 2/3 cups or 380ml of water to the bowl along with the cooled tangzhong.

Incorporate all the water into the flour mixture using your paddle beater or bread hook. Just keep mixing until there's no dry flour left. Cover the bowl with a little cling film or a damp towel and set it aside for 30 minutes. 

Add 170g of the sourdough starter on top of the dough and use the bread hook to incorporate it. 

Cover the bowl again with cling film or a damp towel and let it rest again for another 30 minutes. 

Rather than traditional kneading, the gluten strands are formed and stretched in this dough by performing three sets of coil folds spaced out by 30 minutes. I’m going to save us all a long explanation by including this YouTube video that shows you exactly what to do. Here's the link in case the video isn't working. https://youtu.be/6JQm2n4aVZc

You want to do this once, wait 30 minutes, do it again, wait 30 minutes, then do the final coil fold for a total of three times in all.

Cover the bowl again with cling film or a damp towel and set it somewhere warm for about an hour or until it has doubled in size. 

Put the bowl in a refrigerator for 24-48 hours. 

On the day you are ready to bake, remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide and shape the dough by cutting it in half with a bench scraper.

Shape each half into a ball. Stretch each side out and fold it up and over the ball until you’ve done that from all four sides. Pinch the ends together. 

Use the scraper to flip the ball over onto a square of baking parchment. Sprinkle on flour liberally and use the scraper to tuck the edges of the dough into a snug circle. Repeat for the other dough ball.

Transfer the dough balls on the baking parchment to your baking pan. 

Sprinkle the dough balls with extra flour and put the whole pan inside a plastic bag. To make sure it doesn’t stick to the dough balls, I like to blow it full of air and secure the opening with a clip. Set aside in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour.

About half way through the rising time, put an empty baking pan or iron skillet on the bottom rack and preheat your oven to 450°F or 232°C.

Carefully remove the baking pan from the plastic bag. Put the kettle on now because you are going to need one cup or 240ml boiling water when you put the loaves in the oven. 

Use a sharp knife or lame to score the dough. This will allow the loaves to rise and expand as they bake. 

When your oven is sufficiently preheated, put the bread pan on the middle rack of your oven and carefully pour about 1 cup or 240ml boiling water into the empty pan or skillet on the bottom rack. Quickly close the oven door. 

Bake the loaves for about 35-40 minutes or until they are golden and sound hollow when thumped.

Take the bread out and put it on a wire rack. Let the loaves cool completely before slicing. 

Enjoy!

This month my Bread Bakers are all sharing bread recipes using a tangzhong. Check out the links below! Many thanks to our host, Karen of Karen’s Kitchen Stories!

• Easy Cinnamon Rolls from The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Eggless Nasturtium Greens Sandwich Bread (Tangzhong Method) from Cook with Renu
• Japanese Chocolate Milk Bread from Passion Kneaded
• Japanese Milk Bread Buns from Ambrosia
• Japanese Milk Bread Rolls from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pineapple Buns (Bolo Bao) from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Sourdough Pumpkin Babka from Zesty South Indian Kitchen
• Tangzhong Kolaches from A Messy Kitchen
• Tangzhong Loaf With Cinnamon Sugar Topping from Sneha's Recipe
• Tangzhong Pumpkin Cinnamon Buns from Magical Ingredients
• Tangzhong Sourdough Bread from Food Lust People Love

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

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Golden Briami Tart

This golden briami tart features eggplant, onion, tomatoes, bell pepper and, of course, garlic, pan-fried till golden then baked in puff pastry crust.

Some of the best advice about growing older and still keeping an active mind is the recommendation to learn something new each day. A few days ago, the new word and dish briami was mine. I came across it while searching for Greek recipes. 

Many recipe sites called briami Greek ratatouille so I knew we would love it. Ratatouille is one of our favorite dishes, although I don’t roast my vegetables, preferring to brown them in a hot pan rather than turn the oven on. It takes a little longer but the result is so worth it!

Since I was being untraditional with my cooking method, I decided to go one step farther and bake the briami in puff pastry. It turned out so pretty and delicious as well. 

Golden Briami Tart 

Traditional briami also has potatoes but I didn’t have any on hand. If you want to include a few new potatoes or cubed potato in the vegetable line-up, those would be a lovely addition. 

 

Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry (8.6 oz or 245g)

1 large eggplant

1/2 large onion

18 cherry or grape tomatoes

1/2 green bell pepper

2 cloves garlic

Extra virgin olive oil

Fine sea salt 

Freshly ground black pepper

For garnish, if desired:

Chopped green onion tops

Method

Trim the stem off of your eggplant and cut it into chunks. No need to peel it if the skin is not hard or bitter. 

Heat a non-stick skillet and cook the eggplant in batches in the hot pan, turning the pieces occasionally till they are browned on all sides. 

Drizzle in a little of the olive oil and fry for a few minutes more until the eggplant is a deeper brown and the oil has all been absorbed. Tip each batch of cooked eggplant into a large bowl when it’s done and season with a sprinkle of salt and a few grinds from a black peppermill.  

Cut the onion into thick slices, making sure to have a little of the core in each slice to hold the layers together. Remove the seeds from the bell pepper and cut it into slices as well. 

In the same hot skillet you used for the eggplant, brown first the onions and then the bell pepper, adding a drizzle of olive oil to each when done. Put the onion and bell pepper on a plate to cool. 

Finally, add the small tomatoes to the pan and cook them for a few minutes, until they are a little scorched all round. Tip them into the bowl with the seasoned eggplant, add the garlic and stir gently. Leave all the vegetables to cool. 

Cut a large enough piece of baking parchment to line a large baking pan. 

When the vegetables are cool, unroll the puff pastry sheet onto the baking parchment and gently use a rolling pin to stretch the pastry till it’s about 10 x 14 inches or 26 x 36cm. Move the baking parchment to your baking pan. 

Fold the edges of the pastry in once and try to get the sides to stand up by pinching the corners together. 

Use the tines of a fork to dock the base of the pastry. Spoon the eggplant and tomatoes onto the puff pastry.

Distribute the onions and bell pepper around decoratively. 

Pop the whole pan into the refrigerator to chill while you preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C (convection) or 425°F or 218°C (normal oven.) 

Bake the tart in your preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes or until the puff pastry is risen and golden. - Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes before cutting to serve. Sprinkle on some chopped green onions for garnish, if desired. 

This makes a lovely lunch or dinner for six, if you add on a side salad.

Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday - hurrah! -so that means my Sunday FunDay group is sharing recipes again. This week the theme is Greek food! Check out the list below. Many thanks to our host, Amy of Amy’s Cooking Adventures. 

• Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Greek Cabbage Roll Rice Bowls
• A Day in the Life on The Farm: Makaronia me Yiaourti
• Palatable Pastime: Spanakopita Bites
• Culinary Adventures with Camilla: A Polarizing, Perplexing Greek Wine + Kouneli Stifado
• Sneha’s Recipe: Greek Hot Dogs
• Food Lust People Love: Golden Briami Tart

We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.

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Meatball, Spinach and Tortellini al Brodo

This bowl of warm comfort is called Meatball, Spinach and Tortellini al Brodo and each spoonful is a light yet cozy delight on a chilly night.

It’s not cold here in Texas yet but I am anticipating those days with soup! The traditional Italian dish of tortellini al brodo – that is to say, cooked in broth – doesn’t have meatballs or spinach but I couldn’t resist the urge take it up a notch by adding both. 

Meatball, Spinach and Tortellini al Brodo

If you don’t have ground turkey, by all means substitute another light ground meat like pork or chicken. You can also skip the meatballs altogether but why would deprive yourself like that?

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

1 lb or 450g ground turkey

1 egg

1 green onion, white and green, minced

3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup or 20g panko

olive oil

For the tortellini: 

8 cups or 1.9L chicken stock

1 lb 4 oz or 567g fresh tortellini (I used one Buitoni family-size pack.)

To serve: 

Grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Method

Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C and line the bottom of a baking pan with foil or silicone liner to make clean up easier.

In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, egg, green onion, sea salt, red pepper and a few generous grinds of black pepper together until well combined. 

Add in the panko and mix again. 

Use a small poon or melon baller to divide the mixture into little portions. 

Wet your hands so the mixture doesn’t stick to them and rolls the portions into balls. Drizzle the meatballs with a little olive oil. 

I made 64 mini meatballs. You can make yours bigger, of course, but they won’t be as cute. 

Bake them 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Turn your oven to broil for 5 minutes to brown them. 

Add the meatballs to a large pot along with the chicken stock. Bring the stock to a simmer. 

Add tortellini and cook until just before al dente according to package directions.

Tip in the spinach and stir. You may have to add it in batches to get it all to fit. 

Divide the broth, tortellini and meatballs among bowls and top with grated Pecorino Romano. 

If you have any leftovers, I suggest you store the broth and the tortellini in separate containers or the tortellini will absorb all of the broth!

Enjoy! 

Today my Foodie Extravaganza friends are all sharing pasta recipes in celebration of National Pasta Month. Check out the links below. Many thanks to our host, Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla.

• Baked Mostaccioli by Palatable Pastime
• Blue Evolution Penne by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Casunziei All'Ampezzana (Beet Filled Pasta with Poppy Seeds) by Tara's Multicultural Table
• Chinese Pickled Mustard and Noodle Soup by Pandemonium Noshery
• Grain-Free Garbanzo Beans Pasta and Paneer Soup Magical Ingredients
• Instant Noodles Shots by Sneha's Recipe
• Karen’s Lasagna Bolognese by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Meatball, Spinach and Tortellini al Brodo by Food Lust People Love
• One Pot Lasagne Soup by Our Good Life

Foodie Extravaganza is where we celebrate obscure food holidays by cooking and baking together with the same ingredient or theme each month. Posting day is always the first Wednesday of each month. If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you! If you're a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board.

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