Sweet Potato Sourdough Discard Bread with Bacon
I made a sweet potato sourdough discard bread with bacon. Actually, I made a recipe for sweet potato and bacon and maple syrup sourdough bread. I did. I blame those amazing sweet potato biscuits from Jubilee from a few days ago.
The Story
During February 2021, I celebrated Black History Month by cooking from Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-Martin.
We were sitting at the table after dinner the other night, and I was looking at recipes to use leftover mashed sweet potato. I wondered aloud about sweet potato sourdough bread. Mr. uglyducklingbakery suggested bacon (We had just been talking about a dish with okra and bacon from Jubilee). And there was no turning back.
Tips and tricks for this recipe
– The amount of water or flour you will need will vary based on your sourdough discard (I use a 100% starter that is equal amounts of water and flour in a small volume levain), your sweet potato, etc. Please don’t think of my amounts as law. You want to end up with a sticky ball of dough at the end of mixing.
– You might consider cooking a smidge more bacon to ensure that you will have enough to account for the snacking that will happen by your family. If you don’t eat meat, please skip the bacon and increase the salt by 1 tsp.
– I bake bread in order to have bread for sandwiches. But you can shape this in any way that makes you happy. I’m jealous of all of those pretty boules out there.
The bread dough and final product take on a slightly orange dough from the sweet potato.
FAQs about this sweet potato sourdough discard bread recipe
I make a cheater’s sourdough using ½ teaspoon of instant yeast and the sourdough discard, so I can finish the loaf in one day – it took 10 hours start to finish.
Yes. If we are not going to eat the loaf within a few days, I slice the bread and put the slices in a freezer bag in the freezer to extend the life of the loaf.
The bread has a smoky flavor from the bacon, resulting in a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. I used taleggio, but a cheddar would also match well.
I love this recipe for apple cake and this one for apple muffins. The King Arthur website also has a great list of sourdough discard recipes. The crackers have been my favorite so far.
I have acquired the belief, true or not, that you shouldn’t add salt to bread until well after the process has started for fear of direct salt effect on the yeast and bacteria (that whole osmosis and cell wall thing). This is probably overkill, but it is something I always do.
Related recipes
Or check out other breads for sandwiches in the uglyducklingbakery archives like this sweet Portuguese bread or this sweet brown bread.
Recipe
Sweet Potato Bacon Sourdough Discard Bread
Ingredients
- 8 strips bacon
- 1 cup mashed sweet potato
- 1 cup (125 grams) whole wheat flour
- 3 cup (375 grams) bread flour plus more as necessary
- ½ teaspoons instant yeast optional
- 127 grams levain sourdough starter discard
- 1 cup (250 grams) lukewarm water plus more as necessary
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until just barely crisp (I baked mine on a roasting pan at 425°F). Transfer to a plate covered with paper towels to let cool.8 strips bacon
- In a large bowl, mix the sweet potato, flours, yeast (if using), levain/starter, water, and maple syrup, initially with a spoon or spatula and then by hand. The mixture should be somewhat sticky, so add small amounts of flour or water as needed. Set aside.1 cup mashed sweet potato, 1 cup (125 grams) whole wheat flour, 3 cup (375 grams) bread flour, ½ teaspoons instant yeast, 127 grams levain sourdough starter discard, 1 cup (250 grams) lukewarm water, 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- Chop the bacon into small pieces, then add the bacon and salt to the bowl and knead until incorporated. Form into a ball and lightly oil the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and put in a warm location – the microwave or a 85 to 90°F oven works well here.1 teaspoon salt
- Every 20 to 30 minutes for 2 to 3 hours, reshape the dough into a ball. Do not stress if it's shorter or longer than 20 to 30 min intervals. Because of the stickiness, you might need to wet your hands for the first one or two of these. It should double in size.
- Shape and let rise. I really love my bread loaf baker, which gives it a great crust and that loaf shape that I need. A dutch oven also works. I lightly butter my bread loaf baker. Let it rise. How long will depend on whether you were using a well-fed or un-fed starter and/or the amount of yeast. It should again double in size.
- Preheat oven to 450°F at least one hour before baking.
- Bake at 450°F in the dutch oven/baker for 30 min, then reduce heat to 350°F, remove lid and bake about another 15 minutes. The internal temperature should be 190 to 195°F.
Notes
Nutrition
What’s next
If you make this sweet potato sourdough bread, please leave a comment and rating. Mr. uglyducklingbakery would want to know.
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It’s rising right now. I’m so excited for this recipe. I was wondering if I could put it in the fridge overnight for a cold ferment?
Hi Lydia – I have never done it, but I don’t see why you couldn’t. Please let me know it turns out!