Quinoa is a highly nutritious grain, an ancient Andean crop that has been rediscovered in the modern world as a very complete source of protein. These rolls are made with cooked quinoa grain, whole wheat flour, and eggs, so they are packed with protein and whole grain goodness. They are very tasty as well, sweetened with honey and sprinkled with toasted quinoa and salt.
Prep Time: 3 hours
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup honey plus 1 tablespoon
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 4 cups bread flour
Preparation:
- Place the quinoa in a pot with one teaspoon of salt and one tablespoon honey, and cover with the 2 cups of water.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, until quinoa has absorbed all of the water. Let cool. Set aside 1/4 cup cooked quinoa for sprinkling on top of shaped rolls.
- In a large bowl (or in the bowl of standing mixer), dissolve the yeast in one cup of warm water. Add the honey, eggs, and oil.
- Add the 2 cups of whole wheat flour and mix well.
- Add 2 teaspoons salt and 2 cups of the bread flour and mix well.
- Add quinoa and 1 more cup of flour and knead dough, adding last cup of flour as needed.
- Knead dough (by hand, or with dough hook in standing mixer), until dough is smooth and fairly stiff (about 10 minutes). (Dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl in a mixer).
- Place dough in oiled bowl and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Punch down dough and divide into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, stretching the top of the roll smooth and pulling the excess dough to the underside of the roll. (see video about shaping dinner rolls).
- Place rolls, seam side down, on a baking sheet. Brush tops of rolls with melted butter, and sprinkle with reserved cooked quinoa, and coarse salt.
- Bake rolls for 10 minutes, then lower temperature to 375, and continue to bake for 15 minutes more. Rolls are ready when they are dark golden brown.
- Serve warm.
