Roll with Me II: Soft Buttermilk Rolls

I’m not a stubborn person by nature; I’m happy to compromise and move on.  But I can’t shake the urge to duplicate soft, flavorful homemade dinner rolls.  After several (failed) attempts, I posted this recipe for whole wheat dinner rolls.  Light and fluffy with whole grain flavor, they still left me desiring a moister crumb and a custard-like flavor.  I returned to my fellow bloggers and cookbook authors and was quickly seduced by this buttermilk recipe.  (I have a soft spot for buttermilk.  A very soft spot.  Okay, mutiple soft spots here, here, here, here and in many other places.)

This recipe is incredibly simple to prepare – perfect for yeast and bread-making novices.  (Myself included.)  The aroma of the dough rising and baking is rich and custardy – barely yeasty.  Straight from the oven, these rolls have a thin, crisp crust and a slightly chewy but ethereal body.  Versatile and flavorful, they pair equally well with sweet and savory offerings.  These are our best homemade rolls…. Thus far. 

Soft Buttermilk Rolls, adapted from Life’s a Feast

Ingredients

375 g (about 3 cups) bread flour
125 g (1 cup) whole wheat flour
2 tbsp (30 g) sugar (I used agave nectar)
1 ½ tsp salt
1 ½ heaping (6 g) tsp dry active yeast
1 cup (250 ml) buttermilk (I used low-fat)
¼ cup (60 ml) light cream
3 tbsp (45 g) unsalted butter (I used canola oil)
1 large egg + 1 egg for wash

Directions

1. Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, lightly beat 1 egg.
2. In a medium-sized saucepan (or microwave), gently heat the buttermilk, the cream and the butter together until just warm.  Remove from the heat and stir the warmed liquid until the butter is completely melted.
3. Quickly stir the beaten egg into the warm liquid ingredients then pour over the dry ingredients. 
4. Using a wooden spoon, stir the wet into the dry ingredients until all of the dry ingredients are moistened and form a sticky dough.
5. Scrape out onto a floured work surface and, adding more flour as needed, knead the dough for 6 – 8 minutes.  The dough should be smooth and elastic and no longer sticky (though not dry).
6. Place the dough in a large, clean, oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides of the dough, cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 1 hour until doubled in bulk.
7. Once doubled, scrape the dough back out onto the floured work surface and punch down. 
8. Divide into 12 equal pieces and shape each into a ball.  Place the balls of dough in parchment-lined cake tins or baking sheet, spacing them about 1 to ½ inches apart.  
9. Cover once more with plastic and allow to rise a second time until doubled, another hour.
10. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
11. Brush the tops of the rolls with the egg wash.  Bake for about 20 minutes until the tops are golden brown.

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Quick Cauliflower Chickpea Curry

Rice Kernel used to be a spice fiend.  When he was about 18 months old, we ventured to Disneyland with the grandparents.  As we sat in a Mexican restaurant, he eagerly ate spoonfuls of chipotle-laced salsa.  I tried to take the fiery-hot dip away, but to no avail.  After half a dozen bites, however, the giggles faded, replaced by wails.  Lesson learned, I thought.  No, Rice Kernel wanted more salsa. 

These days, my almost-3-year-old has a love-hate relationship with spice.  He has to be in the mood, I suppose.  He has his favorites: salsa, guacamole, and Italian sausage are at the top of the list.  Curry, however, is hit or miss.  FHE and I are spice fiends ourselves and, while we do not often make curry, it is only because the task seems too laborious.  Fortunately, this is a quick, flavorful, and light weeknight option – for the summer nights that require some bold flavors to whet the appetite or the cold winter nights that require the warmth of aromatic spices.  Effortless to prepare from mostly pantry ingredients, you can easily substitute your choice of vegetables.  Whatever you do, don’t forget a hearty bed of rice to soak up the extra curry sauce. 

Quick Cauliflower Chickpea Curry, from Rice Kernel’s kitchen

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped or sliced
3 tbsp good quality curry powder
1 tbsp garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, chopped
1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 medium carrots, sliced
1 (19 once) can chickpeas (rinsed and drained)
1 cup water (or coconut milk)
1/4 cup cilantro or scallions, for garnish
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped (optional)
1-2 Russet or sweet potatoes, chopped (optional)
Brown or white rice, for serving

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pan.
2. Add the onion and jalapeno (if using) and cook until the onion is tender, about 5-7 minutes.  Add curry powder, garlic, and ginger and cook an additional minute, until fragrant.
3. Add the tomatoes, cauliflower, chickpeas and water and and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the cauliflower (and potatoes, if using) is tender, about 10-15 minutes.
5. Add the carrots and cook until they are just tender and still crisp, about 3-5 minutes.
6. Serve on rice and garnish with cilantro or scallions.

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Crab and Sweet Corn Cakes

Crab and Sweet Corn Cakes, from Epicurious May 2011
These cakes also work well with shrimp, crayfish and even roast chicken.

8 ounces cooked crabmeat
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 red serrano chile, finely chopped
1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup all-purpose flour or fine cornmeal
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup fresh or canned corn kernels, drained
2/3 cup crème fraîche or sour cream, to serve
lime wedges, to serve

Lightly mix the crab, green onions, chile and cilantro in a bowl and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Sift the flour and cornstarch into a separate bowl. Add 2/3 cup cold water and the eggs and whisk until smooth. Stir in the crab mixture and corn kernels. The mixture should have the consistency of heavy cream.

Add a drizzle of olive oil to a frying pan set over medium-high heat.  Spoon small amounts of the batter onto the griddle and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until golden.  Serve with crème fraîche and lime wedges.

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Golden Potatoes with Caper Brown Butter Bread Crumbs

I am the potato lover in the family.  Reds, russets, yukon golds, purple potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, and, of course, purple yams… I enjoy all edible tubers.  As a child, I delighted in mashing them with chicken or turkey and vegetables, a la Irish colcannon.  Unfortunately, neither my husband nor Rice Kernel seem to share my love of creamy potatoes.  (The little one is getting there.)  So when it comes to serving potatoes, I typically incorporate them into hashes or roast them simply with salt, a generous amount of freshly cracked black pepper, and herbs. 

Looking for a different recipe to prepare some red new potatoes, I came across this preparation.  At first glance, I thought to myself, “Potatoes, bread crumbs, and butter?!  All that starch and fat!”  But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was intrigued.  Days went by.  I couldn’t shake the idea of dressing creamy potatoes with crisp bread crumbs.  So I rationalized it: I’ll add olive oil and use whole wheat breadcrumbs.  That’s a healthy enough makeover. 

These were a delectable change of pace on our dinner table.  With a flavorful roasted crust, the creamy potatoes gain new heights with the addition of nutty brown butter (about 1/3 the amount called for in the original recipe), olive oil, briny capers, and toasty homemade bread crumbs.  I assure you it is a savory companion to any roasted meat, poultry, or fish.

Golden Potatoes with Caper Brown Butter Bread Crumbs, adapted from Gourmet Magazine

Ingredients

3 lb roasting potatoes or sweet potatoes, peeled, halved, and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/3 stick unsalted butter or Earth Balance
4 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup drained capers, chopped
1 cup coarse fresh bread crumbs* (I use homemade from a leftover whole wheat baguette)
*Use gluten-free bread if desired.

Note: Original recipe calls for 1 stick of butter (no olive oil) and 2 cups of bread crumbs.  Adjust accordingly to suit your tastes.

Directions

1. Put a 4-sided sheet pan in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 425 degree F. 
2. Cover potatoes with 2 inches water in a 5- to 6-qt pot and add 1 Tbsp salt.  Simmer until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Drain potatoes well.
3. While potatoes simmer, heat butter and oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, swirling pan occasionally, until browned and fragrant, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in capers.  Keep warm, covered.
4. Toss potatoes with 3 Tbsp caper butter, then spread out in hot sheet pan.  Stir remaining caper butter into bread crumbs and scatter over potatoes.  Roast, turning potatoes once or twice, until potatoes are tender and crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes.  Season with salt.

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Cornmeal Pancakes with Pinenuts and Honey-Orange Syrup

These are light, fluffy, and flavorful buttermilk pancakes with a light cornmeal texture.  The addition of cornmeal adds body, an irresistibly hearty flavor, and just a hint of crunch.  Add some pinenuts or blueberries for additional contrast and flavor.  But whatever you do, don’t leave out the honey orange syrup!  This glistening, citrus-infused syrup is a beam of sunshine in the morning – and a little goes a long way. 

Cornmeal Pancakes with Pinenuts, adapted from Martha Stewart’s Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 tbsp honey, agave nectar or sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup milk
3 tbsp oil (or melted butter)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup pine nuts

Directions

1. Whisk together flours, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, milk, butter and egg.
2. Whisk wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined (mixture will be lumpy).  Fold in pine nuts
3. Heat a griddle or large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Grease lightly with butter.
4. Spoon batter onto griddle 1/3 cup at a time. Cook until edges are set, 3 to 4 minutes (bubbles won’t appear as with traditional pancakes). Flip, and cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more butter to griddle and keeping prepared pancakes warm on a baking sheet in the oven

Honey-Orange Syrup, from Simple Bites

1 cup organic honey
Zest of one orange
Juice of one orange
1 tbsp Grand Marnier, optional

Directions

1. Wash an orange and zest completely ( I use a microplane). Juice the orange.
2. In a small pot, whisk together honey and the freshly squeezed orange juice over medium heat. Continue stirring until mixture comes to a boil and the orange juice is completely incorporated.
3. Remove from heat and stir in orange zest.
4. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Sauce will thicken as it cools. Transfer to a jug for serving or a glass jar for storing.

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