TangZhong Bread (Rolls)

It's been long time since I shared a recipe for a bread, although I make bread at least twice a week!
Many give up on making home-made bread, because they don't like texture and density of it. I don't mind dense breads, just opposite - some of wholemeal and rye breads are beautifully filling because of their texture. But for those who are searching for soft, fluffy bread recipe, that stays fresh longer, this recipe is perfect. It uses 'TangZhong' method, where some flour is precooked with water / milk in order to increase elasticity and moisture of bread.
For breads and other yeasted creations, always use high protein (12%+) flour. It's usually marked as  'strong bakers' flour, or '00' , sometimes as high protein flour. Adding gluten will improve your bread, so will bread improver (I avoid it!), milk powder, yogurt,...Best results, however, you'll get with 'TangZhong' method (+ adding other proteins).

Ingredients:
TangZhong starter-
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup flour
Other ingredients-
5 cups bakers flour
2 tbs milk powder
3 tsp yeast
2 tbs sugar
2 tsp salt
1 cup milk, lukewarm
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup water, lukewarm
50 gr soft butter (or 1/2 butter , 1/2 oil)

Method:
Mix flour with some milk into a smooth paste, add the rest of milk and water. Cook  in microwave on high for 2 min 30 sec; or, cook it on top of your stove (heavy bottomed pan) until thick. Cover with cling wrap and let it cool. (Can be refrigerated for up to 3 days)
Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl, add all wet ingredients and tangzhong. Start kneading with your hand, mixer or bread machine (at least 10 minutes). Knead in butter/ oil. Let it double in size (covered), then shape according to your preferences. Cover and let it rise again. Brush with milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds (optional). Bake for 15-20 minutes (small shapes), or 45+ minutes for loafs (180*C).

traditional form

















'pull-apart '





Hljeb / Kruh sa TangZhong Metodom

Dugo nisam podijelila sa vama neki recept za hljeb / kruh, mada ga pravim najmanje 2 puta sedmicno. Mnogi odustanu od domaceg hljeba, jer nisu zadovoljni sa dobijenom teksturom. Ja volim i one cvrste, nabijene kruhove (razani ili 'crni') koji su veoma zasitni i posebnog ukusa.
Medutim ukoliko trazite recept za mekani, 'paucinasti' hljeb koji ostaje duze svjez, ovaj recept je takav. Koristi posebnu metodu prethodnog kuhanja brasna sa mlijekom/vodom, sto povecava elasticnost i vlaznost kruha.
Za hljeb, peciva i druge kreacije sa kvascem / germom, uvijek koristite brasno sa vecim procentom proteina (12%+). Obicno je to '00' brasno, negdje se zove pekarsko brasno, negdje proteinsko. Dodavanje glutena u brasno ce oplemeniti vas kruh, isto ce uciniti 'poboljsivac hljeba / kruha' (ja ga izbjegavam!), mlijeko u prahu, jogurt,... Najbolji rezultat se ipak postize sa Tangzhong metodom (+dodatak drugih proteina).

Potrebno:
Tangzhong pocetno tijesto-
1/3 solje brasna
1/2 soljemlijeka
1/2 solje vode
Ostalo-
5 solja brasna za peciva
2 K mlijeka u prahu
3 k kvasca
2 K secera
2 k soli
1 solja mlijeka, mlakog
1/4 solje slatkog vrhnja
1/2 solje vode, mlake

Nacin:
Pomijesajte brasno sa malo mlijeka u glatku masu. Doadajte ostalo mlijeko i vodu; kuhajte u serpici sa teskim dnom dok ne postane gusta masa (ili u mikrovalnoj 2 min 30 sekundi na najvisoj moci). Pokrijte sa pprijanjajucom folijom i ostavite ohladiti. 
Pomijesajte sve suhe sastojke u vecoj posudi, pomijesajte vlazne sastojke u dugoj pa ih sastavite i pocnite mijesiti (rukom, mikserom ili krusna pec). Cinite to najmanje 10 minuta, zatim umijesite maslac / ulje. Pokrijte i ostavite da naraste. Premijesite i oblikujte prema zelji. Pustite da ponovo nadodju, zatim premazite mlijekom i pospite sezamovim sjemenom (opciono) i pecite 15-20 minuta manje oblike, 45+ minuta vekne (180*C).