Savory Surprise Buns Recipes

SAVORY HERB AND PARMESAN ROLLS

Steps:

• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• For the dough: Heat the milk in a small saucepot over the indirect-heat side of the grill to take the chill off. The milk should be between 110 and 115 degrees F. To the bowl of a mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add the warmed milk and yeast. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the sugar on top, then let stand for 10 minutes, allowing the yeast to foam.
• While you're waiting, melt the butter in a small saucepot over the indirect-heat side of the grill. When the butter has fully melted, continue to cook until browned, nutty and fragrant. Set aside to cool slightly. When the yeast mixture looks very foamy, add the browned butter and egg yolk and mix.
• In a separate mixing bowl, mix together the flour, salt and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, then add to the yeast mixture. Mix until the dough begins to climb the hook and pull away from the bowl. Continue to mix until the dough is shiny and elastic, about 5 minutes. Turn out into a greased bowl, flipping once so the top is coated as well. Cover and let rise in a draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• For the filling: In the meantime, make the filling and prepare your pan. Combine the Parmesan, scallions, parsley, garlic and 4 tablespoons of the butter in a bowl and season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Place a 10-inch cast-iron pan over indirect heat and melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 5-by-15-inch rectangle. Spread the filling mixture over the entire surface, leaving a 1/2-inch clean edge on the side furthest away from you. Begin to tightly roll up into a log, pinching at the seam. Using non-flavored dental floss, slice the log into 6 pieces by first cutting in half and then cutting each half into thirds. This will ensure even sizing. Place the 6 rolls into the prepared pan, leaving some spacing in between. Cover and put in a draft-free place until almost doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Place the pan on the indirect-heat side of the grill and cover the grill with a lid. Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the grill and invert onto a plate. Drizzle with hot honey and sprinkle with flakey sea salt. Serve.

EVERYTHING SEED BUNS

Steps:

• For the dough: Warm the milk and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan over low heat to about 100 degrees F (but no more than 110 degrees F). Remove the saucepan from the heat, and sprinkle the yeast over the liquid. Sprinkle a pinch of the sugar over the top, and set aside without stirring until foamy, about 5 minutes. Then whisk in the butter and egg yolk.
• Whisk together the flour, remaining sugar and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until you have a thick, slightly sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball.
• Brush the inside of a large bowl with butter. Add the dough ball, turning to coat lightly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough on the plastic and note the time. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl, and knead briefly to release excess air. Re-form it into a ball, and return it to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap, and lay it on the dough. Cover the entire bowl tightly with the rest of the plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to let the dough proof.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic flakes and onion flakes on a pie plate, and toast until lightly browned and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Mix the cream cheese, egg and flour in a small bowl until combined. Stir in the scallions, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• To fill and form the buns: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with the 2 tablespoons softened butter. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and press it flat. Roll the dough into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle, with a long side facing you. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on the side opposite you. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the toasted seed mix (for the topping), and scatter the rest over the filling. Starting from the side facing you, roll the dough up into a tight roll. Lightly brush the 1-inch border with water, and continue rolling to seal the roll. Fold the ends in just a bit, and if any spots look thicker than others, even out the roll with your hands.
• Cut the roll every 1 1/2 inches with a serrated knife, to make 12 buns. Place the buns cut-side down (except for the end pieces) in the prepared pan, spacing them 1 inch apart. Cover the buns loosely with plastic wrap, and set in a warm place to rise until they double in size with no gaps in between, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• For the topping: Stir the butter, reserved seed mix and scallions in a small bowl; set aside.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake the buns until they're golden brown and the tops spring back when pressed lightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Spread the topping evenly over the buns, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and return to the oven until the butter is melted and the topping is fragrant, 5 minutes more. Let the buns cool in the pan for 10 minutes before serving.

BACON, CHEESE AND CHIVE BUNS

Steps:

• For the dough: Warm the milk and 1/2 cup water in a medium saucepan over low heat until it is about 100 degrees F (but no more than 110 degrees F). Remove the saucepan from the heat, and sprinkle the yeast over the the liquid. Sprinkle a pinch of the sugar over the top, and set aside without stirring until foamy, about 5 minutes. Then whisk in the butter and egg yolk.
• Whisk together the flour, remaining sugar and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and stir in the yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until you have a thick and slightly sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and knead until soft and elastic, about 6 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball.
• Brush the inside of a large bowl with butter. Add the dough ball, turning to coat lightly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, trace a circle the size of the dough ball on the plastic and note the time. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough out of the bowl, and knead briefly to release excess air; re-form it into a ball, and return it to the bowl. Lightly butter a large piece of plastic wrap, and lay it on the dough. Cover the entire bowl tightly with the rest of the plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to let the dough proof.
• For the filling: Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a small bowl, and remove all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the skillet. Return the skillet to medium heat. Whisk the flour into the bacon fat, and cook, whisking, until light brown, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk, and continue whisking until thickened, about 1 minute more. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl, add the egg yolk, Cheddar, chives, cooked bacon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and stir to combine. Let cool completely. (The filling will firm up a bit, but if it's too warm, it will be difficult to form the buns.)
• To fill and form the buns: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with 2 tablespoons softened butter. Turn the dough onto a floured work surface, and press it flat. Roll it into a 10-by-18-inch rectangle, with a long edge facing you. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border on the side opposite you. Starting from the side facing you, roll the dough up into a tight roll. Lightly brush the 1-inch border with water, and continue rolling to seal the roll. Fold the ends in just a bit, and if any spots look thicker than others, even out the roll with your hands.
• Cut the roll every 1 1/2 inches with a serrated knife, to make 12 buns. Place the buns cut-side down (except for the end pieces) in the prepared pan, spacing them 1 inch apart. Cover the buns loosely with plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm place to rise until the buns double in size, leaving no gaps in between, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• For the topping: Stir the butter, chives and Parmesan in a small bowl; set aside.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake the buns until they're golden brown and the tops spring back when pressed lightly, 25 to 30 minutes. Spread the topping evenly over the buns, and return them to the oven for 5 minutes more. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes before serving.

SAVORY ROLLS

Steps:

• 1. Combine all sponge starter ingredients in a mixing bowl. The resulting goo should look wet and reckless. Wrap the bowl up and let it sit in the corner (preferably a warm one) for four hours or as long as overnight.
• 2. Combine all the dry ingredients for the dough in a large bowl or the mixing bowl for a counter top mixer. Mix them, mechanically or manually, so that all they are distributed evenly. Add water, one cup of the sponge, and butter and mix to combine.
• 3. Add the egg. You want to do this after the butter so the egg doesn't cook. Mix by hand for ten to fifteen minutes (three to five with a Kitchen Aid using the paddle on medium speed) until the dough forms a smooth paste. It should still be sticky and stretchy, but not very wet. If you're using a machine; switch to the dough hook and mix for another five minutes on medium; if you're manual, turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead the hell out of it for seven minutes.
• 4. In yet another bowl, add the olive oil and give a swirl. Form the dough into a ball, and roll it in the oil so that it's greasy everywhere. Cover the bowl with plastic and let it sit for an hour in a warm corner.
• 5. For filling, make Cast-Iron Mushrooms but add 2 pounds of sliced shallots. When the shallots begin to brown, add 1/2 cup cream sherry and reduce by half. Set aside.
• 6. Form the rolls: on a floured surface, gently roll out the dough into a 12 by 18 inch square. Spread the sherry-butter-shallot-mushroom goo all over the giant dough square on your counter. Make sure to spread evenly all the way to the edges. Apply the dill and the cheese in a similar fashion; evenly distribute all the way to the corners of your dough sheet.
• 7. Sprinkle salt and grind pepper all over the thing and preheat your oven to 350.
• 8. As if it were a joint-that's right-carefully roll the rectangle into itself. Start at the bottom and curl inwards until you have a bulging log. Use a sharp knife and slice rolls off of the left side of the log. You can make them as thick as you'd like; we like ours about two inches thick.
• 9. Gingerly place the rolls side by each on a greased (with butter) baking pan and cover them loosely with plastic.
• 10. When thirty minutes-minimum!-has elapsed, slide the rolls into the oven and bake for fifteen to twenty minutes. When they start to smell amazing, check them. You're looking for a nice golden brown hue on the top of each one.