| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 25 mins | Difficulty: Easy | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 230 | 2g | 0g | 45g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 1g | 2g | 9g | 0.6g |
About Hard Roll
The Hard Roll is a simple yet versatile asset in the world of baking. With an inviting aroma wafting from its warm crust and a beautifully light, fluffy interior, it’s a type of bread that lingers in your memory long after the final bite. Its unassuming appearance belies the complex array of flavors and textures locked within, a delightful contrast that truly sets it apart. Just imagine holding a hard roll fresh out of the oven, still warm to the touch, with a hearty spread or perhaps a layer of your favorite jam…
The Secret of Its Flavor
Want to know the secret behind the Hard Roll’s distinctive flavor? It’s all about the dough. The dough for this bread is a wonderful combination of warm water, active dry yeast, sugar, bread flour, salt, and vegetable oil. These ingredients are mixed and allowed to rise, creating a base that is rich and yeasty, yet delightfully light, thanks to the bread flour’s higher gluten content. A lavish brush of egg white prior to baking gives the roll its signature golden-brown hue.
Dishes to Serve it With
The Hard Roll is exceedingly versatile, adapting seamlessly to both sweet and savory fillings. In that respect, it shares much in common with the Classic French Baguette – both breads provide a delightsome crunch on the outside, with a crumb that’s perfect for mopping up sauces or soups. Try it with a robust Provençal Fish Soup, or perhaps alongside an oozy Brie Cheese. These little rolls also make excellent sliders, their sturdy nature holding up beautifully under piles of pulled pork or hearty roast beef.
The Hard Roll and Tradition
While the Hard Roll might be universally loved, it is deeply rooted in Central European cuisine where it often plays an integral part in traditional dishes. A similar variety is the German Brotchen, a breakfast staple often served with cold cuts and cheeses. A Hard Roll is the perfect envoy for traditional German sausages, pickles, and mustard or delightful as a accompaniment to a Sunday roast.
However you choose to enjoy your Hard Roll, its simplicity, versatility, and undeniably delightful flavor attest to the enduring power of bread’s simplest and most satisfying form. So why not step into your kitchen, gather your ingredients, and get ready to experience the magic of making your very own Hard Rolls from scratch?
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup of warm water (105-110°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons of active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 3 cups of bread flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup of additional warm water for baking
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten
Method
Step One
Start by combing the warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar in a large bowl. Leave it to rest for about 5 minutes or until it starts to froth. This indicates that the yeast is active.
Step Two
Add the bread flour, salt, and vegetable oil into the yeast mixture. Stir the mixture until it forms a rough dough. Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for around ten minutes or until it becomes smooth and elastic. If you are using a stand mixer, knead the dough with a dough hook for approximately five minutes.
Step Three
Shape the kneaded dough into a ball and place it back into the bowl. Cover it with cloth and place it in a warm spot for about one hour, allowing it to rise until its size has doubled.
Step Four
After the dough has risen, deflate it gently and then divide it into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball, then place them onto a baking sheet. Cover with a cloth and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
Step Five
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). While waiting for the oven to heat up, boil half a cup of water.
Step Six
Once your rolls have risen and the oven is heated, uncover the rolls and make a few slashes on top of each with a sharp knife. Brush each roll with the lightly beaten egg white, then carefully pour the boiled water into a shallow pan on the bottom rack of the oven (this creates steam which helps the rolls achieve a crusty exterior).
Step Seven
Place the rolls in the oven and bake them for about 20-25 minutes or until they’re golden brown. Once cooked, remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. Enjoy your homemade hard rolls!
