Bolillos Mexican Oval Rolls Recipe 435

Steps:

• Equipment needed/recommended: The Dough Improver is a product that I buy from King Arthur Flour. I find that it really helps to improve the texture of my bread rolls, but this is not necessary for this recipe. I also recommend a higher gluten flour and I use King Arthur Unbleached Flour Parchment paper is helpful Baking sheets Cooling rack pastry brush I use a Kitchen Aid Stand-Mixer with a dough hook. You can do this with a bread machine, except for shaping the rolls, or mix and knead this by hand. Sprinkle yeast over the warm water in large mixer bowl, add the honey; stir to mix. Let stand 5 minutes. Add the melted and cooled and salt into yeast mixture; add 2 1/2 cups flour. Mix at low speed; then beat at medium speed until very elastic, about 5 minutes. Gradually stir in as much of the remaining flour needed to make soft dough, 1/2 to 1 cup. NOTE: I added a tablespoon at a time, and used about 8 more tablespoons. You want the dough to come together enough that it"cleans"the bowl as the dough hook kneads it (5-8 minutes). If you are using your hands, add just enough flour to prevent sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl; turn dough over to grease the top. Let rise, covered, in a warm place until doubled-about an hour. Likewise, I turn on my oven toWARMfor 3 minutes, then turn it off. Punch down dough (actually, I gently press it down); knead briefly on floured surface. Let rest 10 minutes. Divide dough into 6-8 equal pieces; roll each piece into ball on floured sur­face with palm of hand. Starting at center and work­ing toward opposite ends, roll each ball on floured surface with the palms of hands into oval tapered at both ends-about 5-6"long. Place, evenly spaced, on 2 parchment paper covered baking sheets (or greased); let rise, loosely covered, until almost doubled, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oven to 375°F. Mix cold water and cornstarch in small sauce­pan. Heat over high heat, stirring constantly, to boiling; boil until thickened and clear, about 2 minutes. Brush risen rolls with warm cornstarch mixture. Slash each roll lengthwise with razor blade or sharp, thin knife to 1/2 inch from each end, cutting about 1/2 inch deep. Bake until rolls are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped, 30 to 35 min­utes. Remove from baking sheets; cool on wire racks. Depending on the size, this recipe makes between 6-8 rolls

Steps:

• Sprinkle yeast over the warm water in a large mixing bowl; stir and let stand 5 minutes.
• When the yeast is working a bit stir the honey, lard and salt into the yeast mixture.
• Add 2 1/2 cups flour.
• Mix at low speed and then beat at medium speed until the dough is very elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Gradually stir in as much of the remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough.
• Knead on floured surface until dough is smooth in texture and very elastic, 15-20 minutes (use a dough hook on your mixer and knead for about 10-15 minutes).
• Place dough in a greased bowl, turn the dough so all surfaces have a sheen of oil.
• Cover and let rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour (I turn on the light in the oven and place the dough in there to rise, do NOT heat the oven!).
• Punch the dough down and knead briefly on a floured surface.
• Divide dough into 10 pieces and roll into balls.
• Work with the palms of your hands and start at the center of each ball to roll out into ovals.
• Each piece should be about 5 1/2" long and 2" in the middle, tapering to each end.
• Place rolls on a greased baking sheet, cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile heat oven to 375F degrees.
• Mix cornstarch and cold water, heat stirring constantly to boiling, boil until thickened and clear about 2 minutes.
• Brush each roll with the cornstarch mixture.
• Slash each roll down the middle stopping about 1/2" from each end and cutting about 1/2" deep.
• Bake until the rolls are brown and sound hollow when tapped, about 30-35 minutes. Remove from baking sheets and cool on racks.
• Serve warm & fresh from the oven.