Indulge in delight with this Pink Overnight Loaf, perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day or infusing any day with a touch of romance and charm. This beautiful loaf, tinged with a delicate shade of pink, captures the essence of love in every slice. And it's naturally dyed with beets, which makes it even better!
How to Make it:
To start, gather your ingredients. You will need 3 1/2 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of yeast, 2 teaspoons of salt, 3/4 of beet juice and 1cups of warm water.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Mix well. Slowly add the warm water and beet juice to the mixture, stirring constantly until a dough forms. The dough will be sticky, but that's normal.
Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit overnight at room temperature. The next day, preheat your oven to 425°F and grease a baking pan or preheat the cast iron.
In a small bowl, mix together the white sesame seeds, chia seeds, sea salt flakes/sea salt, hemp hearts, ground flax, nutritional yeast, onion powder, and dried minced garlic. Set aside.
On a floured surface, turn out the dough and shape it into a loaf. Place the loaf onto the prepared pan. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the top of the loaf, making sure to cover it evenly.
Bake the loaf for 30-35 minutes, or until it's golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing.
Why an overnight loaf?
Overnight bread loaves are a great option for anyone who wants to enjoy freshly baked bread in the morning without having to wake up early to start the process. These bread loaves are easy to make and require only a few ingredients. The basic recipe typically involves combining flour, water, salt, and yeast, and then letting the dough rise overnight on the counter. The long fermentation period allows the bread to develop a deep, complex flavor and a chewy texture. In the morning, all you have to do is shape the dough and bake it in the oven. The result is a delicious loaf of bread that's perfect for breakfast or brunch.
Variations
Cheesy Everything Bread: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the loaf before baking for a delicious cheesy twist.
Cinnamon Raisin Everything Bread: Add 1/4 cup of raisins and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to the dough for a sweet and savory breakfast bread.
Savory Everything Bread: Omit the honey and add in 1 tablespoon of dried herbs (such as rosemary, thyme, or oregano) for a savory bread that pairs well with soups and stews.
Jalapeño Everything Bread: Add 1-2 finely chopped jalapeños (seeds removed) to the dough for a spicy kick.
Olive Everything Bread: Add 1/2 cup of chopped olives (black or green) to the dough for a salty and savory flavor.
Ingredient Breakdown:
All-purpose flour: This is the base of the bread, providing the gluten that gives it structure.
Yeast: This is the leavening agent that helps the bread rise by converting the sugars in the dough into carbon dioxide gas.
Salt: Salt not only enhances the flavor of the bread, but it also helps to regulate the fermentation process and strengthens the gluten.
Water: Water is necessary to hydrate the flour and activate the yeast.
Beet Juice: Beet juice is a vibrant natural dye with added health benefits.
Dough Texture:
When making bread dough, it's important to get the right consistency to ensure that the dough will rise properly and have the desired texture when baked. A common mistake when making bread is adding too much or too little liquid, which can result in a dough that's too dry and crumbly or too wet and sticky.
For this recipe, the dough should be slightly wet and sticky, but still firm enough to hold its shape when formed into a ball. This can be achieved by using the correct ratio of flour to water and mixing the dough thoroughly to fully hydrate the flour.
If the dough is too wet, you can add more flour a little at a time until it reaches the desired consistency. Conversely, if the dough is too dry, you can add more water a little at a time until it becomes slightly wet and sticky.
Overall, it's important to remember that the exact consistency of the dough can vary depending on factors such as humidity and altitude, so it's a good idea to use your judgment and adjust the dough as needed to get the desired texture.
Covered and Uncovered Baking:
The uncovered and covered parts of baking this bread serve different purposes and are both important for achieving the desired texture and crust.
During the first part of baking, the bread is covered either by a lid or a silicone mat. This is done to create a moist environment around the dough, which helps it to rise and develop a nice crust. The steam created from the moisture in the dough and from the water on the surface of the bread also helps to create a shiny, golden-brown crust.
After a certain amount of time, typically around 30 minutes, the lid or silicone mat is removed and the bread is left uncovered for the remainder of the baking time. This allows the crust to dry out and become crispy, creating a contrast between the soft, pillowy interior and the crunchy exterior. Leaving the bread uncovered also allows excess moisture to escape, which helps to prevent the bread from becoming soggy or doughy.
Overall, the combination of the covered and uncovered baking times helps to create bread with a light, airy texture and a crisp crust, making it a delicious and satisfying addition to any meal.
Folding Method:
The folding method is a technique used when making bread dough that helps to develop gluten, which is a protein in flour that gives bread its structure and chewy texture. The folding process involves taking the dough and gently stretching it out, then folding it back over itself, repeating this process a few times at regular intervals during the dough's resting period.
To fold the dough for an overnight loaf, you would start by mixing together the flour, yeast, salt, and water until a sticky dough forms. Cover the bowl with a silicone mat or towel and let it rest for 8-12 hours. Once the dough has rested, you would then transfer it onto a floured surface and sprinkle the green onions, vegan cheddar cheese shreds, spinach, tofu bacon, and olives on top.
To fold the dough, you would start by pulling the dough from one end and stretching it out gently, then folding it over itself. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and repeat the process, pulling and folding the dough from each side until you have completed four folds in total. This process helps to distribute the ingredients throughout the dough and create a nice structure.
Indulge in delight with this Pink Overnight Loaf, perfect for celebrating Valentine's Day or infusing any day with a touch of romance and charm. This beautiful loaf, tinged with a delicate shade of pink, captures the essence of love in every slice. And its naturally dyed with beets, which makes it even better!
Notes:
You could use 2 tbsp of beet powder, and replace the 3/4 cup of beet juice with water.
The recipe requires some advance planning as the dough needs to rest for 8-12 hours before baking. It can be used as soon as 6 hours, just ensure it has doubled in size.
The dough is simple to make and only requires a few basic ingredients: flour, yeast, salt, beet juice, and water.
The baking process involves preheating the oven to 425 degrees and baking the loaf covered for 30 minutes before removing the cover and baking for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crispy on top.
The finished loaf can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as with butter, as part of a sandwich, or with plant-based egg substitutes.
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