Flax Seed Bread
This is a hearty, and heart smart, seeded bread. Because it contains flax seeds, it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help elevate your good cholesterol. The bread is very tasty - a family favorite toasted for breakfast - and a whole lot cheaper than salmon, one of the other good sources for omega-3 fatty acids.
This recipe is modified a little from a recipe in Dr. Ed Wood's second book, "Classic Sourdoughs : A Home Baker's Handbook". While I really liked his earlier book, "World Sourdoughs from Antiquity" better, this is a very good book, and I really like some of the recipes in it.
This was a favorite bread for our customers and it always sold out. We liked it too because the recipe is so forgiving - if our starter was having issues and no other bread worked well, this one did. Was it the flax seed meal? Was it the large amount of fresh starter? We don't know. However, because of the large amount of fresh starter, this bread rose quickly and usually didn't taste "like sourdough". It was fresh and sweet.
This bread works well as a free-form loaf, such as the boule to the right, or as a pan loaf as seen above.
This recipe is for two 1 1/2 pound loaves.
I like to start by preparing the toasted seed mixture. By toasting them at the start, they'll be cool by the time I need them. As always, I encourage you to change the seed mixture to make you happy,to make this your bread!
Seed Mix Ingredients:
Volumetric Measure (Cups) | Ingredient | Grams | Baker's Percentage (4) |
---|---|---|---|
1 2/3 TBSP or 1 TBSP + 2 tsp | Sunflower Seeds | 12.7 Grams | 23.1% |
3 1/2 TBSP | Flax Seeds | 34 Grams | 61.5% |
1 3/4 tsp | Poppy Seeds | 8.5 Grams | 15.4% |
Put the sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and poppy seeds in a hot, clean, dry skillet and stir them. Let them roast, with frequent stirrings, until they become fragrant. Be careful to make sure they don't scorch! Toasting the seeds makes them - and the bread - much more tasty. You may also roast the seeds in a 375F oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Don't add them to the dough until they are cooled and called for in the recipe as the seeds can interfere with dough development.
Main Ingredients:
Volumetric Measure (Cups) | Ingredient | Grams | Baker's Percentage (4) |
---|---|---|---|
1 5/8 Cups | Water | 380 Grams | 51.4% |
1 1/3 Cups | Active Sourdough Starter | 340 Grams | 46.2% |
2 TBSP | Light Olive Oil | 25.5 Grams | 3.5% |
2 TBSP | Honey | 45.5 Grams | 5.8% |
5 3/8 Cups | Bread Flour | 700 Grams | 95% |
5 1/2 TBSP | Flax Seed Meal | 36.1 Grams | 5% |
1 3/4 tsp | Salt | 14.7 Grams | 2% |
All of it... around 1/4 cup | Toasted Seed Mixture | 55 Grams | 7.5% |
Method:
This dough is a great candidate for the stretch and fold method, and also works well with kneading. If you are using the stretch and fold method, add the toasted seed mixture when you first mix the dough. If you are kneading, add the seeds after the dough is well developed and knead just enough more to evenly distribute the seeds.
For kneaders - If you are measuring with cups, add all the ingredients but the flour and toasted seed mixture to your mixing bowl. Then stir in the flour one cup at a time until the dough is too thick to stir.
Pour the dough onto a floured work surface and knead until the dough is resilient. The dough is a rather sticky dough, but it's important not to over-flour the dough.
Once the dough is well kneaded, add the toasted seed mixture and knead until the seeds are well distributed. Then turn it out into an oiled bowl, turn and cover. Let it rise until doubled.
For stretch and folders - Put all the ingredients (including the toasted seed mixture) into your mixing bowl, mix together until all the flour is wet. Cover the dough and let it rest. Because the stretch and fold method is so gentle, the seeds won't interfere with the dough development.
An hour later, do a stretch and fold and cover. Another hour later, do another stretch and fold and cover, another hour later, do another stretch and fold and cover. After another hour, proceed with the next step. The stretch and fold operations take the place of the first rise and largely interrupt the rise, but not the beneficial fermentation in the dough.
All together now - Whether you kneaded or stretched and folded, deflate the dough, knead briefly, cut and shape into two rough loaves. Let the dough sit, covered, for 30 minutes, then shape into final loaves. Let rise, covered, until doubled.
Preheat the oven to 375F. Bake 30 to 45 minutes.
Notes:
(1) The original recipe called for Flax flour. None was available here, so I used Flax meal, which is available. Check your local health food store and use what's available. Like any other whole grain meal or flour, Flax meal or flax flour can become rancid, so storing them in the refrigerator or freezer is suggested.
(2) Flax seeds are easily found in health food stores. The oils in them can become rancid, so either buy just what you need, or store the seeds in the refrigerator or freezer.