Spice Up Your Sourdough: A Cheesy Jalapeño Adventure
Hey there, bread lovers! Are you ready to take your sourdough game to the next level? Forget the plain old loaf; we're diving headfirst into a world of cheesy, spicy deliciousness with this amazing Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough! This isn't just bread; it's an experience.
Why This Recipe Rocks
Our base recipe is a real crowd-pleaser with tons of success stories, so you know you're in for a treat. But this time, we're kicking things up a notch by adding melty cheddar and fiery jalapeños. It’s like a party in your mouth, and everyone’s invited!
This recipe is:
- Easy to make: Perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike. This is a great one to get started with the world of sourdough.
- Versatile: Enjoy it as a snack, with soups, or as the star of a super delicious grilled cheese.
- Adaptable: Feel free to swap ingredients based on your own personal taste (more on that below).
- Healthy: Made with wholesome ingredients, and packed with a ton of flavour!
What You’ll Need
Let's gather our star players:
- Sourdough Starter: Your bubbly best friend, all active and ready to go.
- Organic White Bread Flour: The backbone of our bread. Feel free to experiment with other flours, but this works really well.
- Sea Salt: To bring out all the wonderful flavors.
- Aged White Cheddar: Although we used sharp orange cheddar in the photos to show it clearly, you can use aged white cheddar, it is just as delicious.
- Fresh Jalapeños: Because we like a bit of heat. Remove the seeds if you’re a bit of a wimp, but a little heat is always fun.
- Scallions: For an extra layer of flavour.
- Optional Seeds: Sesame, poppy, or everything bagel seasoning for that extra flair.
Let's Get Baking!
- Mix It Up: Combine your flour and salt. In a separate bowl, mix your starter and water. Then, mix everything together until it forms a shaggy dough. Let it rest for 15 minutes, then do two sets of "stretch and folds" at 15-minute intervals.
- Overnight Magic: Let the dough rise on your counter for 10-14 hours. It should almost double in size. No need for a fancy banneton basket here, we are keeping this easy.
- Shape & Swirl: Gently flatten your dough and make a rough rectangle. Sprinkle half your cheese, jalapeños, and scallions on one side. Roll it up towards the middle, then flip and repeat on the other side to create that signature swirl. Place it in a buttered loaf pan. This part is actually really fun, so don’t sweat it, if it's not perfect, it's perfect.
- Preheat & Proof: Preheat your oven to 400°F while your dough does a little proofing for 45 minutes. Score it if you like to get fancy with the designs.
- Bake: Pop it in the oven for 40-45 minutes, until it's golden brown and cooked through. Use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 204-208F.
- Cool & Enjoy: The hardest part! Let it cool completely before slicing, unless you can’t resist, which is totally understandable!
Pro-Tips for the Best Bread
- Master the Basics: If you're new to sourdough, start with theNo-Knead Sourdough Recipe. It’s good to get that one down pat first.
- Dough Temperature: If your dough is too soft, chill it. If it’s too stiff, let it rise a bit more. Like Goldilocks and the three bears, we want it just right.
- Tent It: If the top gets too dark, loosely cover it with foil.
- Log It: If the swirl is too much, roll the dough into a log instead.
- Yeast Option: In a pinch, you can make this with a yeasted dough instead. See the notes in the recipe below for a quick and easy option.
- Pickled Jalapeños: For a different twist, try pickled jalapeños!
Storage
Store your masterpiece in a kitchen towel for up to 5 days or in the fridge for up to 10. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. That is if it lasts that long.
Serving Ideas
- Snack Attack: Enjoy it all on its own. You've earnt it.
- Soup’s Best Friend: Dip it into a hearty bowl of tomato or spicy corn chowder.
- Grilled Cheese Goals: Make the most epic spicy grilled cheese sandwich you’ve ever had.
FAQs
Q: Does it need to be refrigerated? A: It depends on how long you want to store it. Room temperature for 5 days, fridge for 10.
Q: What do I eat with it? A: Soups, grilled cheese, or just as it is!
Q: When do I add the spicy stuff? A: After you flatten the dough, add the peppers and cheese before rolling it.
Ready to Bake? Let's Do This!
This Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough is your chance to be a bread-making rock star. It's fun, it’s flavourful, and it's definitely going to impress! Get in that kitchen and bake up some spicy, cheesy happiness!
Recipe
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