Ingredients
Scale
Sponge Starter:
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons instant yeast
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
Dough:
- All sponge starter
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- 3 teaspoons salt
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
Savory Spinach Filling:
- 10-ounce package frozen, chopped spinach, thawed
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup herbed cheese (like cream cheese or spreadable cheese)
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt, to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill
- 2 tablespoons minced green onions
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- Pinch of grated nutmeg
Instructions
1. Make the Sponge
- In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and whole wheat flour until smooth.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 45 minutes to allow the sponge to develop.
2. Prepare the Dough
- Stir down the sponge and add the remaining ingredients: water, sugar, salt, oil, eggs, all-purpose flour, and whole wheat flour.
- Mix until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Knead the dough for about 10 minutes until smooth. If the dough is sticky, add flour a tablespoon at a time.
3. Make the Filling
- In a bowl, mix together all filling ingredients: spinach, ricotta cheese, herbed cheese, salt, dill, green onions, parsley, and a pinch of nutmeg. Set aside.
4. Assemble the Bread
- Divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each into 4 flat circles.
- On a parchment-lined baking sheet, stack 3 circles with layers of filling in between, ensuring the edges are uncovered.
- Place the last dough circle on top and cut into 16 wedges, leaving the center uncut.
5. Twist and Rise
- Twist each wedge away from each other and arrange them on the baking sheet.
- Cover and let rise for 45-60 minutes; preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) halfway through.
6. Bake
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the bread is golden brown.
- Allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: one normal portion
- Calories: Approximately 200 per serving
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 45mg