It’s Wednesday, so that must mean a new sourdough experiment for the week! Sticking to my “learn about Ukrainian food” theme, this bread is a Whole Wheat Sunflower Seed Sourdough Artisan Bread. The Ukraine produces some of the largest crops of sunflower seeds globally (although with Russian and other Eastern European countries). And the sunflower is also a symbol of peace in the Ukraine. So, this bread is meaningful and economically appropriate. The Ukrainians, I have read, also eat a lot of rye, so that will be next Wednesday’s experiment. In the meantime, this bread is moist, rounded (literally and figuratively), hearty and has good flavor with the sunflower seeds, whole wheat and honey.

Ingredients
2/3 cup (130 grams) active sourdough starter
1/2 cup water, between 100-110F
1 large egg
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons malt extract
1 teaspoons table salt
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup toasted, unsalted sunflower seeds

Directions
Mix the ingredients until they come together, reserving a few tablespoons of the sunflower seeds. Using the stretch and fold technique, stretch and fold the dough once every half an hour, and then let the dough rest for another half an hour. Repeat every half an hour six times for a total of 3 hours

At this point, you can put the dough in the refrigerator for a long, cold rise, or continue on below. If you choose to let the dough rise overnight, let it come to room temperature before proceeding.

Once the dough is at room temperature, place on a floured work surface. Gently stretch into a 10-inch rectangle. Fold the top of the dough to the bottom and lightly seal with the heel of the hand. Rotate the dough 90 degrees then fold the top of the dough to the bottom and lightly seal with the heel of the hand. Cup both hands around the dough and pull towards the body until the seam of the dough is on the bottom. Cover and let rest 15-20 minutes. Uncover the dough and cup with both hands. Gently push and pull the dough forwards and backwards, right and left, while applying gentle pressure to create a tight and smooth outer skin. Line a proofing basket or bowl with a clean linen, generously covered with flour. Place dough seam-side-up in the basket, cover and proof until puffy and an indentation does not spring back, 60-90 minutes.

Pre-heat your oven to 425F, with your lidded 4-5 quart oval cast iron pot inside, for at least 30 minutes. Just before you are ready to bake, invert your bread from the proofing basket onto a piece of parchment paper, score and carefully place in the Dutch Oven. Careful, it is extremely hot! Sprinkle on remaining sunflower seeds. Bake for 40 minutes with the lid on, and then 15 minutes with the lid off. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting. Makes a great sandwich bread!