Yeast Breads: Dark Onion Rolls

Onions and parmesan are rolled inside these savory buns, making them delicious and fun to make. You can use fresh onions, if you like, but dried or flaked onions are easier to work with. Also, you won't end up crying as you try to cut them. That's always a plus!


Ingredients


For the Bread
1¼ tsp bread machine or quick rise yeast
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups all purpose flour
⅛ cup sugar
1 tsp salt
½ cup milk
½ cup warm water
3 tbsp butter or margarine, softened
1 egg


For the Filling
⅛ cup butter
¼ cup dried onion or onion flakes
1 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
1 tbsp poppy seed
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sea salt


Preparation


First, make the bread. Combine all bread ingredients in a large bowl and mix until a loose dough forms. Turn this dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, until dough is soft and elastic. Place in an oiled bowl and let rise in a warm location until doubled in size, at least 1 hour.


Now make the filling. Melt the butter, then add all other filling ingredients and mix well. Set aside. Punch down the dough to remove all air bubbles. Roll out the dough so that it forms a rectangle that is 12x8 inches. Spread the filling mixture on the dough, covering all the dough except for 1 inch along 1 12-inch side. Roll up the dough to form a log, starting from the 12-inch side that you did NOT leave uncovered by filling. You want to end up with a 12-inch log, and you'll need that uncovered edge to seal the log.


Pinch the log closed along that uncovered edge. Slice the log into 12 1-inch rolls. Place these rolls on a prepared baking sheet. Cover your hand with a piece of wax paper and press each roll down slightly. Don't flatten them, but do compress them a little.


Cover and let rise until double in size, about 45 minutes. Heat oven to 350°F. Uncover rolls and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until rolls are golden brown. Remove rolls from the baking sheet immediately and cool on wire racks.


These rolls should be stored in an airtight container and consumed within 3 days.