Easy Bread Rolls

Only 6 ingredients are needed to make these delicious and easy bread rolls. Depending on the final size you make them they can be used as Burger Buns, to dunk into soup, or alternatively to compliment your main course. We made these as a side accompaniment to our Bobotie dish we recently cooked. Who doesn’t like freshly baked bread rolls?

I’ve always been afraid of baking, the precision it requires scares me. Until recently you would not have found me experimenting with baked goods as much. My cooking style is very much that of seeing a recipe, drawing inspiration from it, and then veering totally off the tracks while I create my own dish. Naturally, with baking, accuracy is required.

When my uncle sent me his version of these easy bread rolls, I was hesitant to change things up a bit. But I did, and the result was outstanding. So much so that the kids insist on these for school lunch as well. Homemade is better than storebought, right? This bread rolls recipe from South Africa delivers in taste and promises not to disappoint.

PS. Love the butter dish? There are so many colours to choose from, check it out. If you are in SA you can find it here. Mighty Ape based in NZ has a huge variety as well.

Handy tips when you want to know how to make bread rolls

• You don’t need professional equipment to make these bread rolls. Although, a stand mixer such as the Kitchen Aid or Bosch Kitchen Machine listed on our shop page will speed things up.
• It’s important to activate your yeast correctly if it’s not an instant yeast. South Africans will be familiar with Anchor Instant Yeast – this does not have to be activated. In New Zealand, I have been using Edmond’s Active Yeast which requires activation. Once you get it right, it’s super easy to do and yields beautiful results. We have step by step instructions on how to activate this yeast here. PS. Make sure your yeast isn’t expired.
• Get creative and add some flavourings to your rolls (Below are some of our favourite combinations).
• To speed up the second proof, add boiling water to a shallow dish and put in the off oven. Place the baking tray with the shaped rolls on the wire rack above the boiling water dish. This will help the rolls to rise faster for the second proof.
• The cooking times may vary, so make sure you watch them carefully once the cooking time reaches 10 minutes.
• You may choose to glaze your rolls once they come out of the oven with melted butter. If you wish, adding some chopped garlic to this melted butter will turn these rolls into garlic rolls.

Bread Rolls Types

If you want you can add any of the following combinations at the flour stage:

1. Garlic and Thyme: combine 2 teaspoons of dried Thyme with 1 teaspoon of Garlic salt
2. Cheese and Paprika: add 1 cup of grated Cheddar cheese together with 2 teaspoons of Paprika.
3. Parmesan, Oregano and Garlic: add 1/2 cup of Parmesan with 2 teaspoons of dried Oregano and 1 teaspoon of Garlic salt.

Bread Rolls Recipe with No Yeast

Finding a bread roll recipe without yeast yields more than 16,800,000 results in google. So it goes without saying that there are plenty of bread rolls recipe no yeast recipes for you to choose from.

These no yeast dinner rolls from Kirbie looks super delicious. And if you’re not keen in trying this easy bread roll recipe then give Kirbie’s bread roll recipe with no yeast a go!

Bread Rolls Recipe

Activate your yeast if required. (Use 150ml of the water and 1 tablespoon of sugar as per bread roll ingredient list).

In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, canola oil and activated yeast. Note that if you are using instant yeast then combine the flour, salt, canola oil, instant yeast and 150ml lukewarm water.

Begin mixing, and continue to add the rest of the water gradually until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. (Don’t add all of the remaining water at once). Now the fun starts. Knead the dough for approximately 5 minutes in a stand mixer (+/- 9 minutes by hand).

The dough should be soft and smooth but still a little sticky to the touch. Don’t add too much flour! After a few minutes of kneading, stop, grab a small piece of dough and roll it into a ball. If you can do that without it sticking all over your hands it is ready to go. You might find you added too much water, if that is the case add a little more flour until you reach this desired consistency.

Add the dough to a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise until double in size. This can take anything from 60 to 90 minutes. (Depends on the warmth of the kitchen).

Lightly punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly greased countertop. Divide it into equal sizes. My personality won’t allow me to guess “equal sizes” and I, therefore, rely on a kitchen scale to make equal sizes. I have found that 60g is a great size for a dinner roll or lunchbox roll. Put the rolls onto a prepared baking tray (ensure enough spacing between them) and let rise a second time until the rolls are double in size. (About 40 minutes)

Finally, bake the rolls at 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees F). Brush with melted butter if you wish.

What to serve these Easy Bread Rolls with

These rolls are a wonderful side accompimant to some of our other main dishes including:

1. MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH ROASTED GARLIC AND PAPRIKA
2. STICKY PORK RIBLETS
3. BALSAMIC-ROASTED TOMATO, ONION AND GREEN PEPPER PASTA

Until next time!