Best 4 Italian Hard Roll Recipes

ITALIAN HARD ROLLS RECIPE {PANINI DURI ITALIANI RECIPE}

Steps:

• To make the starter: In a medium size mixing bowl, mix the starter ingredients of 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup cool water, and instant yeast until smooth. Cover* and let rest at room temperature overnight.
• Next day, in a large mixing bowl combine all of the dough ingredients and mix and knead them together -- by hand, stand mixer with dough hook or bread machine -- until you've made a soft, somewhat smooth ball of dough. You may not need all of the flour. Add the remaining 3/4 ounce (1/8 cup) if needed.
• Allow the dough to rise, covered in an oiled bowl, for 3 hours, gently deflating it and turning it over after 1 hour, and again after 2 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly greased work surface. Divide it into 12 pieces*, shape the pieces into balls, and firm them up by rolling them under your lightly cupped fingers.
• Place the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover them with a clean towel and let them rise for 1 to 2 hours, until they're puffy, though not doubled in size. They'll flatten out a bit as they rise; that's OK.
• Cover the rolls, and refrigerate them for 2 to 3 hours. Towards the end of the rolls' chill, preheat the oven to 425F.
• Whisk together the egg white and water until frothy. Remove the rolls from the refrigerator, and brush them with the wash. They may seem a bit flat but they'll perk up when they hit the oven's heat.
• Slash a 1/4" deep cut across the top of each roll. Immediately slide loaves onto a baking stone in the oven. If you don't have a stone keep the bread rolls ons the baking sheet.
• Bake rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, until they're a deep golden brown. Remove them from the oven, and cool on a wire rack. For the best crunch, open the oven door, and allow the rolls to cool in the turned-off, open-door oven.

ITALIAN DINNER ROLLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and seasonings. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water and 2 tablespoons butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat until moistened. Add egg; beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes. , Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 15 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Melt remaining butter; dip tops of balls in butter and remaining cheese. , Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. , Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

CRUSTY ROLLS

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add shortening, sugar, salt and 1 cup flour; beat until smooth. Add egg whites; mix well. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes (dough will be stiff). Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours., Punch dough down; divide into 24 pieces and shape into balls. Sprinkle greased baking sheets with cornmeal. Place rolls 2 in. apart on baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Place a large shallow pan filled with boiling water on lowest rack in oven. Bake rolls on middle rack at 425° for 10-11 minutes or until golden brown.

ITALIAN-STYLE ROLLS

Steps:

• Place the kneader attachment onto the stand mixer.
• Proof the yeast with 1 teaspoon sugar in 3/4 cup water for 10 minutes or until foamy.
• In the stainless steel mixing bowl place 3-1/2 cups flour, salt, 1 tablespoon sugar and melted butter.
• When the yeast has proofed add to the bowl along with 3/4 cup warm water.
• Start kneading adding in more flour only if needed (total kneading time should take about 8 minutes) do not add in too much flour or the buns will be heavy, when finished kneading the dough should feel soft but semi-sticky and smooth and should stick to your hands only slightly when removing from the bowl.
• Remove the dough to a very lightly flour-dusted surface; cover with clean tea towel and let rest 5 minutes.
• Shape into a ball (the dough will come together nicely after resting).
• Place into a large greased deep glass bowl.
• Cover and let rise for about 60-90 minutes.
• To check if the dough is ready to be punched down, very gently stick two fingers about 1/2-inch into the dough, the dough is ready when the finger marks remain.
• Punch down dough and slice in half.
• Slice each half into 4 even pieces.
• Shape each piece into a round ball.
• Place balls spacing well apart onto a 10 x 15-inch greased baking sheet (2 balls across and 4 balls down).
• Cover and let rise 30-40 minutes.
• Bake at 375 for about 22 minutes or until light golden brown.