Original

Soft or crusty rolls from Brilliant Breads by James Morton (available here)

Requires
  • 500 g bread flour
  • 20 g caster sugar
  • 10 g fine grain cooking salt
  • 1 x 7 g sachet instant dry yeast
  • Up to 330 g full-fat milk, ROOM TEMP
  • Oil for greasing
Instructions
  1. Mix flour and sugar in a big bowl.


  2. Gently mix in salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl. Don't mix the two yet - salt may kill the yeast


  3. Add up to 330 g milk until it forms a dough. Make sure it's about room temp or slightly warmer.

  4. Cover and leave in a warm place until doubled in size.
  5. Deflate and knead.
  6. Cover again and leave until at LEAST doubled in size.
  7. Flour a chopping board or flat surface and place the dough on it. Roll into a sausage and cut into quarters, then each quarter into thirds (for 12 total pieces).
  8. Make each piece into a roll:
    • Hold one piece of dough on a flat palm.
    • Cup the other hand over the dough and move it in circles so that it forms a ball on your palm.
  9. Place the rolls on a oiled baking tray and leave somewhere warm for another hour or until doubled in size again. It doesn't matter if they are touching.
    • Before the end of this stage, preheat the oven.
  10. Bake:
    • For soft rolls, use a higher temperature (230 °C) and bake for 10-15 min.
    • For crusty rolls, use a lower temperature (200 °C) and bake for 20-25 min. Slash the tops of the rolls in a cross shape with a bread knife before baking.
Notes
  • The book has good pictures and explains the temps/times thing very well, plus kneading methods.
  • If the rolls are done, they should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. (dont burn your fingers though)
  • Ideally resist temptation and leave the rolls till fully cooled before cutting/eating them, so they can continue cooking or whatever