Savory Surprise Buns Recipes

SAVORY HERB AND PARMESAN ROLLS

Steps:

• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• For the dough: Heat the milk in a small saucepot over the indirect-heat side of the grill to take the chill off. The milk should be between 110 and 115 degrees F. To the bowl of a mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, add the warmed milk and yeast. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the sugar on top, then let stand for 10 minutes, allowing the yeast to foam.
• While you're waiting, melt the butter in a small saucepot over the indirect-heat side of the grill. When the butter has fully melted, continue to cook until browned, nutty and fragrant. Set aside to cool slightly. When the yeast mixture looks very foamy, add the browned butter and egg yolk and mix.
• In a separate mixing bowl, mix together the flour, salt and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, then add to the yeast mixture. Mix until the dough begins to climb the hook and pull away from the bowl. Continue to mix until the dough is shiny and elastic, about 5 minutes. Turn out into a greased bowl, flipping once so the top is coated as well. Cover and let rise in a draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• For the filling: In the meantime, make the filling and prepare your pan. Combine the Parmesan, scallions, parsley, garlic and 4 tablespoons of the butter in a bowl and season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Place a 10-inch cast-iron pan over indirect heat and melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a 5-by-15-inch rectangle. Spread the filling mixture over the entire surface, leaving a 1/2-inch clean edge on the side furthest away from you. Begin to tightly roll up into a log, pinching at the seam. Using non-flavored dental floss, slice the log into 6 pieces by first cutting in half and then cutting each half into thirds. This will ensure even sizing. Place the 6 rolls into the prepared pan, leaving some spacing in between. Cover and put in a draft-free place until almost doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
• Place the pan on the indirect-heat side of the grill and cover the grill with a lid. Bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the grill and invert onto a plate. Drizzle with hot honey and sprinkle with flakey sea salt. Serve.

SURPRISE SAUSAGE BUNDLES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp; remove to paper towels. Reserve 2 tablespoons drippings. Saute onion in drippings until tender. Stir in the sauerkraut, sausage, brown sugar, garlic salt, caraway and pepper. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; add bacon. Set aside to cool. , In a large bowl, combine contents of the roll mix and its yeast packet. Stir in one egg, water and butter to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Cover dough with a large bowl; let stand for 5 minutes. , Divide dough into 16 pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each piece into a 4-in. circle. Top each with 1/4 cup filling. Fold dough around filling, forming a ball; pinch edges to seal. Place seam side down on greased baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap that has been coated with cooking spray. Let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes. , Beat remaining egg; brush over bundles. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake at 350° for 16-17 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Freeze option: Freeze cooled bundles in a freezer container, separating layers with waxed paper. To use, reheat bundles on a greased baking sheet in a preheated 325° oven until heated through.

SAVORY ROLLS

Steps:

• 1. Combine all sponge starter ingredients in a mixing bowl. The resulting goo should look wet and reckless. Wrap the bowl up and let it sit in the corner (preferably a warm one) for four hours or as long as overnight.
• 2. Combine all the dry ingredients for the dough in a large bowl or the mixing bowl for a counter top mixer. Mix them, mechanically or manually, so that all they are distributed evenly. Add water, one cup of the sponge, and butter and mix to combine.
• 3. Add the egg. You want to do this after the butter so the egg doesn't cook. Mix by hand for ten to fifteen minutes (three to five with a Kitchen Aid using the paddle on medium speed) until the dough forms a smooth paste. It should still be sticky and stretchy, but not very wet. If you're using a machine; switch to the dough hook and mix for another five minutes on medium; if you're manual, turn the dough out on a floured surface and knead the hell out of it for seven minutes.
• 4. In yet another bowl, add the olive oil and give a swirl. Form the dough into a ball, and roll it in the oil so that it's greasy everywhere. Cover the bowl with plastic and let it sit for an hour in a warm corner.
• 5. For filling, make Cast-Iron Mushrooms but add 2 pounds of sliced shallots. When the shallots begin to brown, add 1/2 cup cream sherry and reduce by half. Set aside.
• 6. Form the rolls: on a floured surface, gently roll out the dough into a 12 by 18 inch square. Spread the sherry-butter-shallot-mushroom goo all over the giant dough square on your counter. Make sure to spread evenly all the way to the edges. Apply the dill and the cheese in a similar fashion; evenly distribute all the way to the corners of your dough sheet.
• 7. Sprinkle salt and grind pepper all over the thing and preheat your oven to 350.
• 8. As if it were a joint-that's right-carefully roll the rectangle into itself. Start at the bottom and curl inwards until you have a bulging log. Use a sharp knife and slice rolls off of the left side of the log. You can make them as thick as you'd like; we like ours about two inches thick.
• 9. Gingerly place the rolls side by each on a greased (with butter) baking pan and cover them loosely with plastic.
• 10. When thirty minutes-minimum!-has elapsed, slide the rolls into the oven and bake for fifteen to twenty minutes. When they start to smell amazing, check them. You're looking for a nice golden brown hue on the top of each one.