This recipe without the onion or poppy seeds was inspired by a baker by the name of Eric Hanner who passed away before his time. I’ve made some adjustments to the original recipe based on my previous bakes with it, those changes are reflected in the spreadsheet and instructions below.
Build levain overnight 74°F for 8 - 10 hours
Boil filtered water about 250 g and use to rehydrate the onions overnight. When ready to start the dough in the morning, strain the onions and use the water to make the dough. If you’re worried there might be too much onion flavour, use regular filtered water than wasn’t used to hydrate the onions.
Mix bread flour, VWG, onion water (minus holdout water), yeast and sugar using a mixer. Once incorporated let rest for 15 mins. This is a stiff dough. Then mix on low speed to build gluten. If the dough seems just too stiff for your mixer to develop, add some of the levain since it is 100% hydration.
Once gluten well developed add levain mixing again until well incorporated and gluten well developed, the dough will be a bit loose at this point. Then add the salt and holdout water (if needed) gradually and again mix until well developed. The salt will tighten up the dough. Add the rehydrated onion and mix until well combined.
Transfer the dough to a well oiled bowl and continue bulk fermentation 82ºF for about 1-2 hour or until the dough has at least doubled.
Once bulk is complete and the dough has at least doubled pre-heat the oven to 500ºF with the dutch oven inside.
Dust the surface of the dough and the countertop with flour and release the dough onto the countertop. Degas the dough by patting it down with the heel of your hand. Shape into a batard.
Transfer the batard to your final proofing device. I used a cookie tray with bottles of wine on either side, then my couche and then a sheet of parchment paper. I placed the dough seem side down onto the parchment supporting the sides of the dough. I brushed the surface with water and put poppyseeds on the outside of the dough.
When oven pre-heated to 500ºF, brush the dough with the cornstarch glaze then score with the bread knife and load into the dutch oven to bake with steam for 15 mins at 450ºF then remove the lid and drop temperature to 420ºF for 20 mins and then drop temperature again to 350ºF and bake for another 10 mins. Make sure the loaf is fully baked, remove it from the oven and tap on the bottom to ensure that it sounds hollow. If hollow then it is done. Place on a cooling rack and brush once again with the cornstarch glaze.
Cornstarch Glaze - (makes more than needed)
Bring 125 g water to a boil in a small sauce pan.
In a 1 cup measuring cup, whisk together ⅛ cup (31 g) water and ¾-1 tbsp cornstarch. Slowly add the dissolved cornstarch mixture into the boiling water, whisking constantly until the glaze has thickened slightly. Take it off the stove and set aside until needed. It will be quite thick by the time it is needed.
