Chilli & Cheese Sourdough Pull-Apart Bread

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Our new favourite Sourdough Tear and Share Bread, that not only looks amazing but also tastes divine! Don't be put off by a long ingredients list - the majority of the ingredients are spices you will find in your cupboards and the rest are everyday cooking ingredients! Make this scrumptious Chilli and Cheese Sourdough Pull-Apart Bread to have as a tasty snack, dip in some BBQ sauce or enjoy as a side to fresh salad or soup. P.S. If you don't like things hot, substitute the cayenne with sweet paprika and red chilli with more pepper. It will still have a delicious smoky and cheesy flavour, but without the heat of the chilli!

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Looking for something cheesy, but in a traditional boule form? Try our Three Cheese Sourdough Bread!

Why Make This Spicy Cheese Sourdough Pull-Apart Bread?

I have been excited about sharing this recipe for months now. I've been holding onto it up until now because I wanted to share it in the summer. When the weather is getting warmer and the sun makes a more regular appearance in our garden, the first thing we do is get the BBQ out and have a feast.

This Chili and Cheese Sourdough Tear & Share Bread is absolutely perfect for the BBQ feast. It is convenient to eat (tear & share, right?), and the smoky seasoning in this delicious bread goes so well with the general smokiness of a good bbq. So we think this is a wonderful bread to serve whilst the meat is grilling.

One important thing to note is that the dough will take longer than usual to prove because all the added spices will slow down the proving process. So it's an exercise of patience.

Looking for something just as tasty and savoury but with less spice? Try our Sourdough Pull Apart Garlic Bread (Cheesy Buttery Brioche), Sourdough Garlic Knots or Cheesy Sourdough Garlic Rolls (Pull-Apart Bread)!

Step-By-Step Method

Day 1

First thing in the morning, feed your starter and leave it in a warm spot to double in size. Alternatively, you may choose to feed your starter the night before so it's ready in the morning. Whichever way you do it, make sure that you use your starter at its peak and before it starts deflating.

Mix all the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and set aside for later.

Combine water and ⅔ (approx. 260g) of the flour in a bowl of your stand mixer. Mix to a rough dough. Cover and set aside for 60 minutes to autolyse.

To your water and flour dough, add the active starter. Add the salt, olive oil, seasoning and the remaining flour. Start the stand mixer (we use and love Kenwood) with a dough hook attachment on low-medium speed. Mix until the dough gathers on the hook and carry on kneading for another 5-7 minutes.

Scrape the dough out onto a kitchen surface and shape it into a ball. Place it into a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl and leave it in a warm spot to prove.

After 30 minutes, lift one side of the dough and fold it into the centre of the dough. Do the same with the other three sides of the dough, then turn the dough over, so that the seams are at the bottom. Cover the bowl again. After 30 minutes repeat the folds. Cover and do it again after 60 minutes. This time, leave the dough undisturbed for about 2-3 hours in a warm spot, or until doubles in size.

Place the dough, well covered in the fridge for 6-24 hours, or simply overnight.

Day 2

In the morning, gently scrape the dough onto a floured surface, but do not knead. Cut the dough into 2 equal pieces and shape each piece into a tight ball. I simply gather the four corners together in the centre, then flip the dough over and roll the ball on the surface in a circular motion cupping it with my hand. Place the two balls of dough on a well-floured surface, cover with a tea towel or lightly oiled cling film and allow to rest for 20 minutes. If the dough flattens right away, form the ball again and give it another 20 minutes.

In the meantime, place the diced peppers and red chillies on a sheet of kitchen paper to extract any excess moisture.

Gently flatten and press one piece of the rested dough into a disc. Use your fingers to stretch the dough into a 30cm (12in) round. (I don't use a rolling pin for this to make sure I don't deflate the air pockets in the dough).

Using a sharp knife or a pizza wheel, trim the edges using so you have a neat circle. Then carefully lift the disc onto a baking tray lined with a sheet of baking parchment (we highly recommend Bacofoil Baking Parchment) and dusted with flour.

Beat the egg and brush a 1.5-2cm border around the outer edge of the circle (keep the remaining egg). Avoiding the brushed edge, spread most of the Cheddar and red Leicester (reserving a small handful for the top). Scatter the peppers, chillies and spring onions across the circle.

Stretch out the second piece of dough into a neat 30 cm (12in) circle. Lift it over the first disk with toppings and press the edges together to trap in the filling.

Place a small cup, bowl or a 5cm biscuit cutter in the middle. Using a sharp knife, pizza wheel or oiled sharp scissors, divide into four quadrants. Divide each quadrant into four thin wedges so you have a total of 16 wedges radiating from the centre (see photos below).

Grab two adjacent wedges. Twist them away from each other twice and pinch ends together. Repeat with the rest of the wedges.

Loosely cover with a lightly greased cling film (we recommend Kirkland Signature Cling Film) and leave in a warm spot for an approx 2 hours. Don't expect it to double in size, but it should puff up quite a bit. Brush the tear and share bread all over with the rest of the egg and scatter the remaining cheese.

In the meantime, preheat the oven to 200°C Fan. Bake the bread for 17-20 minutes. Rotate it midway through cooking to ensure even browning.

Serve fresh out of the oven with some dips on the side!

Don't Have A Sourdough Starter Yet?

If you don't yet have a sourdough starter, but would like to jump on the Sourdough bandwagon, here's an article to get you started: How to Make a Sourdough Starter from Scratch?

Other Delicious Sourdough Recipes

But if your starter is already going strong, maybe we can tempt you with another recipe of ours:

• Crusty Sourdough Baguettes | Overnight Recipe
• Apple and Cinnamon Sourdough Buns
• Overnight Sourdough Focaccia with Herbs and Olives

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