Cooks Joy

For this month’s “We Knead to Bake” we are baking honeycomb buns. If you love bread, you have to bake these buns. They not only look cute, but are soft and taste great as well. These buns felt like a smaller version of the pav buns posted a couple of years ago. We had the choice to use a savory filling or a sweet filling. I went with two kinds of savory filling and both were a big hit. Can you see all the yeast action in the pictures? You cannot stop with one piece and these are so kid friendly in their size too. The next time I make it, I would probably put in more of the stuffing. The bread is versatile and you can use any filling and also make the buns bigger if needed.

Khaliat Nahal (Honeycomb Buns or Bee’s Hive Buns)

By Vardhini, September 24, 2013

Soft buns stuffed with a savory filling.

Total Time: 03h 00min
Prep Time: 02h 30min
Cook time: 30 minutes
Yield: 18 small rolls

Ingredients:

For Dough
bread flour - 2 1/2 cups (all purpose flour can also be used)
salt - 3/4 tsp
sugar - 1 tsp
yeast - 1 1/2 tsp
butter - 3 tbsp
milk - 1 cup (luke warm) + little for brushing the dough
sesame seeds - 2 tbsp - for topping
For Filling - 1
oil - 1 tsp
cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
onion - 3/4 cup - chopped
bell pepper - 1/4 cup - chopped
salt - to taste
chilly powder - a pinch
For Filling - 2
feta cheese - 1/4 cup
chilli flakes - a sprinkle
italian seasoning - a sprinkle

Instructions:

Filling 1
Heat oil and add cumin seeds. Next add the remaining ingredients and allow the vegetables to cook. When done, turn off the stove and allow to cool.

Filling 2
Combine given ingredients.

Dough
Mix 2 cups flour, salt, sugar, yeast and butter. Add milk and make a dough that might be sticky. Add as much of the remaining 1/2 cup flour to form a dough that has the consistency of bread dough.

Knead well until you have a smooth and elastic dough that is not sticky. Place in an oiled bowl and allow to rise.

Once risen, divide dough into 2 pieces. Form each half into a rope that is about 9 inches long. Cut the rope into 1 inch pieces. Repeat for the other half. You will have a total of 18 pieces.

Flatten each piece and place half to one tsp of filling in center. Pull the sides up to cover the filling and pinch on top to seal. Smoothen into a round ball. Place the ball in a greased round 9 inch cake pan. Repeat for remaining 17 pieces.

Arrange the balls in concentric circles in the cake pan. Cover and let it rise for about 30 - 40 minutes. When the dough has risen, brush tops with milk and sprinkle sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for about 25 minutes until they are done and the tops are golden brown.

1 year ago: Spicy Roasted Broccoli
2 years ago: Spinach Potato Curry

PLEASE CLICK ON COLLAGES TO VIEW BIGGER IMAGES.

Pictorial
1. Mix 2 cups flour, yeast, salt and sugar. Add butter and mix again. Next add milk and mix with a spatula. The dough might be sticky.

2. Add as much of the remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed and form a dough that has the consistency of bread dough.

Knead well until you have a smooth and elastic dough that is not sticky. Place in an oiled bowl and allow to rise.

3. Meanwhile, prepare the filling by heating oil and adding cumin seeds. Next add onion, bell pepper, salt and chilly powder.

4. Turn off the stove when the vegetables are cooked. Allow to cool.

5. For the next filling combine feta cheese, chilly flakes and Italian seasoning.

6. The dough has doubled in volume. Punch it down.

7. Divide dough into two pieces. Roll each half into a rope that is about 9 inches long. Cut the rope into 1 inch pieces. You will have a total of 18 pieces.

8. Take each piece and flatten a bit. Place half to one teaspoon of the filling in the center. Pull the sides up to cover the filling and pinch on top to seal.

Smoothen into a round ball. Place the ball in a greased round 9 inch cake pan. Repeat for all pieces.

9. Arrange the balls in concentric circles in the cake pan. Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for about 30 - 40 minutes.

When the dough has risen, brush tops with milk and sprinkle sesame seeds.

Bake in a preheated 350F oven for about 25 minutes until they are done and the tops are golden brown.