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Herb and Tahini Sourdough Bread
I recently bought feta cheese, labneh, olives, tahini, and dried oregano at a Greek grocery store and this got me craving a sourdough bread with flavors from Greek cuisine. Specifically, I wanted bread with fragrant herbs and tahini (sesame paste) to pair with the feta and labneh. Labneh is an extra-strained full fat yogurt with salt that’s also called kefir cheese. It is so delicious, especially with this bread.
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Herb and tahini bread with labneh and a little cracked pepper
My maternal grandparents were originally from Greece, and I grew up eating a lot of dishes flavored with lemon, oregano, mint, and dill. So I included these herbs in the bread (minus the dill, which I wasn’t craving) plus cracked black pepper and tahini. The bread came out super aromatic and balanced. I couldn’t easily pick out any one element, but the combination was mouth watering.
This herb- and pepper-flecked dough at the end of the final proof
You can make this bread with substitutions geared toward your inventory and flavor preferences. For example, if you don’t have tahini, you can use toasted sesame seeds in the dough. Some other possible combinations include the trio of basil, cumin, and olive oil; or smoked paprika and caramelized garlic; or even go sweet with cinnamon, cocoa powder and coconut oil.
A mix of whole wheat and refined flour plus oregano, mint, black pepper, lemon zest, and tahini
Likewise, wheat and flour substitutions are fine and this guide can help you make selections. I used sprouted hard red spring wheat flour at 30% of the total flour, but another red wheat or durum or khorasan might be wonderful as well. Depending on your flour choices, the water amount in the recipe may need to go up or down. For example, if you use only whole grain flour, the dough will need more water. Or if you use a less absorbent whole grain flour, such as einkorn, the dough will need less water.
It is always safer to start with a dryer dough because you can add water during the rounds of gluten development, especially the lamination. It then follows that if your dough is on the too-wet side, work in the additions via folding and kneading rather than lamination which adds water to the dough.
A “light” wheat sourdough bread that’s 30% whole grain flour
My process for this recipe used many strategies for an airy, tall loaf: an autolyse, two-stage mixing, and several rounds of coil folding. That said, if you simply mix all-in and pay no additional attention to the dough before shaping, your bread will still come out fine. It might be a smidge flatter if your bulk fermentation is relatively fast and/or warm. However, if you give the dough time to strengthen on its own, it will have a nice texture and height.
You can slow down your process by using cold water in the mixing or less sourdough starter in the dough (substitute some of the starter with plain water and flour), and of course, by refrigerating the dough for some portion of the bulk fermentation or final proof.
Enjoying the bread with a salad of beets, feta, and more
See the Photo Gallery after the recipe for process photos, including the dough at the beginning and end of the bulk fermentation and final proof.
Herb and Tahini Sourdough Bread
Herb and Tahini Sourdough bread is inspired by flavors in Greek cuisine. The bread smells and tastes amazing. It's a treat by itself or paired with cheese, cold-cuts, salads, or soup. Also feel free to experiment with different herbs and spices to satisfy your particular cravings.
Ingredients
Dough
Additions
Instructions
Autolyse
Adding Starter and Salt
Gluten Development, Additions, and Bulk Fermentation
Shaping
Final Proof
Baking
Shopping List
Sourdough Starter (Dry)
Mockmill 100 Grain Mill
High Protein Bread Flour
Danish Dough Whisk — Large
Sprouted Hard Red Spring Wheat Berries
Sprouted Hard Red Spring Whole Grain Flour
$12.00 – $106.30Breadtopia Banneton — Oval
Breadtopia Clay Baker — Batard
Dough and Storage Bucket w/Lid – 2 qt. Square
Eurita Clay Baker — 3 Qt
$63.95Breadtopia’s Choice Kitchen Scale
$18.00Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls — Set of 3
$39.99Herb and Tahini Sourdough Bread