Autumn brings with it the warm colors of the season and the pumpkin, promptly, becomes the absolute protagonist of the kitchen. Among the many preparations that this vegetable allows you to make, pumpkin bread is certainly an original and very tasty choice. The result is a dough with an intense orange color, a soft crumb and a delicate flavor that will win over even those who are not usually great lovers of pumpkin.
The preparation of our colored bread is simpler than you might imagine. All you need are a few basic ingredients and a little patience for the leavening, the rest will be done by the pumpkin, which will first be cooked and then blended until you obtain a smooth puree. Thanks to this last step we will be able to incorporate the vegetable into the dough evenly, creating a soft and slightly moist structure.
The ingredients
To make pumpkin bread you need the following ingredients:
If you prefer, you could replace the fresh yeast with dry yeast, reducing the quantity to around 3 grams. The important thing is to respect the leavening times to allow the dough to develop correctly.
The preparation of the dough
The first step is to cook the pumpkin. After peeling it and removing the seeds, it is cut into cubes and browned in a pan with two tablespoons of oil. Cooking lasts about 20 minutes over low heat, until the pulp becomes tender. It is better to avoid cooking in water because the pumpkin would absorb too much of it, compromising the final consistency of the mixture. Alternatively, you can bake in the oven at 180 degrees for about 25 minutes.
Once cooked, as already mentioned, the pumpkin should be blended until a smooth cream is obtained. At this point we move on to the actual preparation of the dough. Pour the flour together with the crumbled yeast, oil, water and pumpkin puree into a large bowl, then work the dough vigorously until it becomes smooth and homogeneous. It takes a little strength, but the result will repay the effort.
The dough should then be covered and left to rise for 2-3 hours, until it doubles in volume. This is the moment when the yeast does its work, creating that honeycomb structure typical of homemade bread.
The shape and cooking
After the first leavening, the dough should be deflated with your hands and transferred to a well-floured work surface. Anyone who wants can give the bread a classic shape, or have fun creating a real pumpkin. To obtain this effect, use kitchen twine: form four pieces to place underneath the dough, in a radial pattern, then bring the ends upwards and knot in the center, so as to create segments that will resemble those of a pumpkin.
The bread should be placed on a baking tray with baking paper and left to rise for another hour. Before baking, brush the surface with a little oil, which will ensure a nice browning. Cooking takes place in a static oven at 190 degrees, for approximately 45 minutes.
Once baked, you will have to let the bread cool completely before cutting it, a step that will allow the crumb to settle and make cutting easier, avoiding crushing the internal structure.
As regards the preservation of the bread, you can guarantee it – for a few days – by using a clean cloth to wrap it with.
You can enjoy pumpkin bread plain, perhaps with a drizzle of good oil, use it to accompany fresh and mature cheeses, or use it to prepare delicious bruschetta. Don’t set limits to your imagination and enjoy your meal!
