2 Ingredient Sourdough Bread Rolls
These shortcut sourdough bread rolls taste like sourdough bread but without using a traditional sourdough starter. It's an easy bread recipe to make.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (540g) self-rising flour , see note before starting
- 1 3/4 cups (14 fl oz/414 ml ) lowfat plain kefir
Instructions
- In a large glass mixing bowl, combine the flour and kefir. Mix well until all of the flour is incorporated. I recommend starting with a spatula and then switching to using your hand to knead the flour into the dough. The dough should be slightly on the dry side because it will get stickier as it ferments, but all of the flour should be incorporated and you shouldn't have any dry flour spots on the dough or any unmixed flour. If your dough is too dry or some of the flour is not incorporated, you can add a little bit of kefir, 1 tbsp at a time, until the dough reaches the right consistency.
- Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it into the fridge. Let the dough rest and proof for 2-6 hours. The longer the dough rests, the better the flavor will be but the dough will also be wetter and harder to work with if rested too long.
- About 20 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Fill a large cast iron skillet or a large metal baking dish that is oven-safe at 425°F with about 2 inches of water and add it to the bottom rack of the oven while it preheats. Adjust the rack that the bread will bake on to just above the bottom rack (You want the bread to bake as low in the oven as possible so the tops don’t get too dark).
- After the dough has rested, wet your hands with some water. Grab one side of the dough, stretch it upward, and then fold it over the center of the dough. Repeat this process from all eight sides of the dough.
- Lightly flour a work surface with self-rising flour. Carefully turn the dough out onto the floured surface, seam side down. Use a bench scraper or sharp knife to divide the dough into 12 equal portions. I recommend weighing the dough to make sure all the rolls are the same size.
- Shape each piece into a ball by pulling the edges to the center to and pinching to seal. Place seam side down on your work surface and roll under your hand to create tension and form a round, taut ball.
- Place the rolls on a parchment paper-lined large baking sheet, spacing them about 1½ to 2 inches apart. If desired, you can brush the tops of the bread with egg wash to give them a shinier and smoother finish, but this is optional. See notes for more details.
- When the oven is ready and the water inside is steaming, add the baking sheet of rolls to your oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes or the rolls are completely cooked. They should also be dark golden brown and crusty on the outside. To check if a roll is done, you can tap the bottom side and it should sound hollow. You can also break one open to check, but be careful since they are very hot. Let the rolls cool for about 15-20 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Breads are best served soon after they are done cooling, while they are still very crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Uneaten bread should be stored in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- Self-rising flour note. There are 2 main kinds of self-rising flour sold in the US. One that is a lower protein (2 grams per 1/4 cup (30g)) flour and one that has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup (30 g)). Brands like King Arthur Flour and White Lily make the low protein flour. Brands like Gold Medal and most store/generic brands contain a regular protein amount. The amount of protein affects how much liquid is absorbed and will affect the texture of the bread. For this recipe, you want a flour with a regular amount of protein. Please use a self-rising flour with 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup (30 g). Or make your own self-rising flour with the recipe below.
- I made these with Gold Medal self-rising flour* and Lifeway plain low-fat kefir.*
- *These product links are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Homemade self-rising flour: Combine 4 cups of all purpose flour, 2 tbsp baking powder and 1 tsp salt. Whisk to evenly combine. Make sure your all purpose flour has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup). Most brands in the US contain this amount but there are some brands with higher protein (4 grams per 1/4 cup) such as King Arthur Flour and Bob's Red Mill. You do not want a high protein flour for this bread. It will be dense and dry.
- Optional egg wash finish: Brushing egg wash on top of the bread before baking will give the surface a smoother, slightly shiny and darker appearance. The bread rolls still turn out well without egg wash but they will split more on the surface and will have a more rustic appearance. If you want the bread rolls to have an egg wash finish, add the egg white of a large egg into a small bowl and whisk it lightly. Then brush rolls with the egg white right before baking.
Serving: 1roll, Calories: 149kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 0.3g, Saturated Fat: 0.3g, Sodium: 485mg, Sugar: 1g, NET CARBS: 31
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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