Recipe for cold-raised buns with almonds and dates
The beauty of food is that sometimes you get the chance to try something you’ve never tasted before, something others have discovered somewhere and then made their own version of, and then you can try your hand at the basic idea and create it with your own twist. That’s how food continuously evolves when we share it with each other – I think that’s beautiful.
Some time ago, I was served some buns at a brunch. They were super delicious; almonds, dates, and plenty of cardamom. I’ve tweaked them to match the way I flavor my food and the way I bake bread. Here’s my version, and you can do the same. Try them simply with butter, a bit like spiced cake. They are also good as they are, so feel free to pack one in the kids’ lunchboxes. Or try making a sandwich with hummus, wild garlic pesto, and avocado, and give it a splash of sriracha and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese!
Enjoy
Ingredients
- 125 gram Almonds
- 500 gram Water 10-15 degrees Celsius (50-59 degrees Fahrenheit)
- 15 gram Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3 gram Dry Yeast
- 450 gram Manitoba Flour
- 120 gram Whole Wheat Flour
- 50 gram Oatmeal rolled
- 20 gram Salt
- 5 gram Cardamom ground
- 3 gram Cinnamon Ceylon cinnamon - ground
- 250 gram Dates pitted
Instructions
- 1. Pour the almonds onto a baking sheet and bake them for 10-13 minutes on the second to top rack in the oven at 175 degrees Celsius (347 degrees Fahrenheit).
- 2. Get your kitchen machine ready.
- 3. Pour water, vinegar, and yeast into the mixing bowl and let it sit for a few minutes before stirring the yeast.
- 4. Add flour and rolled oats, mix together, cover with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let it autolyse for 1-2 hours.
- 5. Add salt, cardamom, and cinnamon and knead with the dough hook on low speed for about 10 minutes.
- 6. Now add dates and almonds and knead at high speed until the dough releases from the bottom and sides of the bowl.
- 7. Place the dough in a bowl and let it sit on the counter for 1-2 hours.
- 8. Place the dough in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
- 9. Take the dough out and let it sit in a warm place for a couple of hours.
- 10. Sprinkle flour on the counter and pour out the dough.
- 11. Lift all four sides of the dough over the middle, turn the dough over and sprinkle with flour.
- 12. Let the dough rise covered for 1-2 hours.
- 13. Preheat the oven to 260 degrees Celsius (500 degrees Fahrenheit).
- 14. Gently stretch the dough so it becomes square and roughly even in height all over.
- 15. Cut the dough into 16 pieces and place 8 on each baking sheet.
- 16. Place a baking sheet or roasting pan at the bottom of the oven and pour in ½ liter of boiling water.
- 17. Put the buns in the oven and bake them for 10 minutes at 240 degrees Celsius (464 degrees Fahrenheit) with a fan.
- 18. Reduce the heat to 210 degrees Celsius (410 degrees Fahrenheit) and bake for another 10 minutes.
- 19. Remove the buns and let them cool on a rack.