Crusty Emmer Hokkaido Pumpkin Bread (Dairy, Egg free)

This bread is deliciously aromatic and flavoursome with a softer, and moister crumb and SUPER crunchy crust. Besides being delicious, there is something so magical and comforting about a large slice of warm, freshly home baked bread with a thin layer of butter spread across the top. It's a joy making and eating this bread.
Emmer is the perfect flour when you enjoy a hearty and healthful bread that's packed full of earthy and nutty flavour. I guaranteed that you will be hooked for life. In addition to being one of the world’s oldest wheat varieties, emmer is also an excellent source of fibre, protein, magnesium and vitamins A, B, C and E. I usually order mine directly from the farmer and mill them at home.

120 g Emmer flour (you can use whole spelt or Khorasan flour)
280 g Plain flour
10 g Salt
400 g Hokkaido pumpkin puree
15 g Fresh yeast
100-150 ml Water

Place flours and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer. Add in pumpkin puree and fresh yeast. Stir at a slow speed and slowly add in water as needed to form a soft, slightly sticky dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 10-15 minutes.
Turn the dough out onto the counter top, and shape into a ball. Return the dough to the bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until it doubles in size, approximately 1 hour.
Once the dough doubles in size, punch it down to expel the gas. Cover the dough again and let it rest for about 5 minutes.
Shape the dough into a round ball. Place it, seam side down, into a floured proofing basket. Cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough proof at room temperature for approximately 40 minutes to an hour.
Place an oven-proof casserole pan with a cover in the oven. Preheat the oven to 250C/480F fan forced.
Turn the proofed bread out onto a piece of parchment paper, so the seam side up. Transfer the dough, parchment paper and all, into the casserole pan. Cover and bake at 230C/450F for about 40 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for a further 10 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
Remove from the oven and transfer the bread on a cooling rack to cool completely. Wait at least an hour before slicing and serving.