Fresh homemade Sandwich buns

 

 

 

We were out of bread for a few days and hubby dear was too busy to go out shopping. Well I decided why not make them at home. I mean I did attempt baking bread earlier but it really didnt turn out nice. It was hard, dry and tasted yeasty. I dont know where I went wrong. But oh well.. practice makes you perfect. Plus growing up in India we never had to bake or think of baking bread. Just call the local kiranewaala (grocery shop owner) and order fresh bread or Pav as we call it in Pune and he would deliver in minutes. After I came to the United States I developed deep interest in baking and started learning recipes on how to make cakes, breads and pies. Infact I did manage to make some really delicious cakes and hubby dear loves them. So based on my recent baking success I finally decided to bake sandwich buns at home and surprise him. And just as I finished baking these buns he came home with store bought  big packet of sandwich buns! So much so or my hard work :(..But to my surprise the buns in the oven turned out sooooo delicious. They are very easy to make and don't need much effort. These are as good as store bought and what more they are home made too! Guess what, hubby dear loved them! Hard work paid off :)

 

 

Ingredients

3 cups Bread flour plus few more for dusting
1 packet Dry active yeast ( 2-1/4 tsp) if you using the bottle
1/4 cup lukewarm water (not hot)
1 cup milk (lukewarm )
1 beaten egg
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp salt

1.    Warm the milk to lukewarm and add butter to it so that it melts in the milk.

2.    Set aside. Mix yeast and water together along with sugar. Give it a stir and set aside until frothy

3.    Now add the salt and milk and butter mixture to the yeast and stir well. Add the beaten egg.

4.    Slowly add the flour one cup at a time to this mixture. It will be really sticky.

5.    On a lightly floured surface start kneading the dough. In the process if you think the dough is very sticky and you cannot manage to knead the dough just slightly spread flour on your palms and then knead. Do not add more flour to the dough, try and spread dry flour on the counter top while kneading or greasing your palms with butter to help you knead. Now this takes almost 15 minutes of good kneading, pushing the dough outwards and folding it towards you. Do not stretch the dough. After this arm breaking exercise the dough becomes really soft.

6.    Place it on a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp towel and place it in a warm place until doubled. Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.

7.    Take the dough on a floured surface and roll it out into a big square. Cut it in 8 pieces. Take each portion in your palm and make it round.

8.     Place them on a greased baking sheet about 2 inch apart. Bake for 20 mins until brown.

9.    Keep an eye on your buns as they tend to bake fast and it all depends on your oven. Cool before serving. I wrapped them individually in a plastic wrap to prevent it from drying in th AC. But dont worry about storing them, they turn out so delicious they will be gone in a day!

Aaah! nothing beats the sweet fragrance of freshly baked homemade bread. Enjoy with butter, jam or hot chai!