Starry Sky Bread (Butterfly Pea Natural Dye)
It is said that the starry sky color is popular this year. Starry sky cakes, donuts, cookies, and drinks are everywhere, with colors that are incredibly mesmerizing. Recently, I learned that the main ingredient of starry sky-colored drinks is butterfly pea flower. Fun fact: Butterfly pea flower, also called blue butterfly flower, originates from Thailand and is rich in anthocyanins. Butterfly pea flower itself has no distinct flavor and is often used for cooking and natural coloring. As a natural dye, foods beautified by it are deeply loved by foodies.
Ingredients
Steps
Pour 15 grams of butterfly pea flowers in 200 grams of boiling water. Make sure to use boiling water as only boiling water can fully extract the color from butterfly pea flowers. Let it cool — it must be cooled completely! Reserve 150 grams of butterfly pea flower water.
Prepare the nuts. Peel the pistachios.
Place high-gluten flour, whole wheat flour, salt, sugar, and yeast into the bread bucket or mixer bowl in sequence. Pour in 150 grams of cooled butterfly pea flower water. Note: it must be cooled — don’t pour boiling hot butterfly pea flower water in, or it’ll kill the yeast! 😂
Knead until it reaches the extended phase, then add butter. Continue kneading the dough until the membrane forms.
Knead until the membranes are smooth, with no jagged edges at the tear point; then it's good to go.
Add dried fruits and nuts. Turn the dough a few times to mix. If kneading by hand, incorporate the nuts evenly.
Place the dough into a large bowl, cover with cling wrap, and let it proof for the first time.
Proof until it doubles in size. Insert a floured finger into the dough — the indentation shouldn't bounce back. Proofing time depends on temperature and moisture; there's no fixed standard.
After proofing, remove the dough and press to release air. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
Flatten and roll out the dough into an oval shape.
Roll up tightly from the bottom edge. Pinch the seam firmly closed.
Let it proof for the second time until it doubles in size. Preheat the oven.
Dust with some high-gluten flour. Bake in the middle rack of the oven at 180°C for 30 minutes.
Cool down and slice. Its appearance is absolutely stunning!