Health for life

Hokkaido milk bread, super spongy bread prepared with the famous Asian bread making method called tangzhong method. Tangzhong method goes for a water roux, this roux is the prominent ingredient to get fantastic soft breads. For our this months We knead to bake, a month baking event started by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen, she challenged us to make this Hokkaido Milk Bread which is well known for their super softy texture. Its quite popular in South Asian bakieries, some people says this is a Japanese bread, because of the milk used in this bread comes from Japan.While others says that its pure white colour and the texture resemble the pristineness of Hakkoido.

Coming to Tangzhong method, this method need a part of bread flour with 5parts of water,when cooked its forms the famous water roux. The gluten in the bread flour and water mixture absorb the moisture and create a leavening action. When Tangzhong is added to other ingredients of the bread dough, its gives a light,tender and fluffy bread.The dough prepared with tangzhong is a versatile dough, we can make palin loaf,dinner rolls or muffin like rolls. You can fill very well them with sweet or savoury filling.I prepared few mini loaves, some muffins rolls and tried my hands in making some animals. I filled my mini loaves and muffin rolls with chocolate chips and my kids just loved them.


For Tangzhong (water roux)
1/3cup all purpose flour
1/2cup Water
1/2cup Milk

For dough:
2+1/2cups All purpose flour
3tbsp Sugar
1tsp Salt
2tbsp Milk powder
2tsp Instant dry yeast
1/2cup Milk
1/8cup Cream
1/3cup Tangzhong (use half of the tangzhong )
25grms Butter (cut as small pieces & softened)
1cup Chocolate chips

Making the water-roux:


Mix the flour in water and milk well without any lumps.

Cook in medium low heat, stirring continously with a whisk to prevent buring.This mixture will becomes thickens, if you are able to see some lines for every stir you make with the spoon,your tangzhong is ready,remove it from the heat.

Transfer it to a clean bowl,cover with a cling wrap sticking on the surface of the tangzhong to pect from drying. Let cool completely.You can use tangzhong straight away once it cools down to room temperature.



Making Dough:

Put the flour,salt,sugar,milk powder and instant yeast in a stand mixer or in a food processor and mix it for a few minutes,meanwhile in an another bowl,mix the milk,cream and tangzhong until smooth and add to the mixer.

Run in slow speed until the dough comes together, now add the butter and knead it until you get a smooth and elastic dough.

Arrange the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a towel and keep it aside until the dough double in volume. Mine took almost an hour.

Place the dough in a cleaned working surface, divide the dough to make mini loaves or muffins or else as single loaf.

Roll out each portion of the dough with a rolling pin as a oval shape, sprinkle generously the chocolate chips.

Take one end of the dough from the shorter side of the oval to fold in the middle of the dough, take the other end and fold it slightly to overlaps the other fold.

Arrange this folded dough to tha prepared pans and cover with a towel,let the dough sit again for an hour.


Preheat the oven to 325F, caully brush the tops of the rolls and the loaf with milk and bake them for 20-25minutes until they are done.

Let them cool completely in the tins and then unmould, transfer to a rack and cool them completely.

Serve the loaves or dinner rolls with your favourite spreads.

Nothing can beat the aroma of freshly baked breads at home and obviously homemade breads are the best without any preservatives. Home made breads are very much tastier than the store bought one and they are damn cheaper and doesnt take much time to prepare at home. If you ask me to bake a bread everyday, i dont hesitate a second at all. Coz bread making are definitely a stress burster, if you want to feel free from your stress just bake a bread at home.Homemade breads are more nutritious when compared to store bought ones,needless to say that we can mix and match the ingredients according to our wish.

For our this months We Knead To Bake, a monthly baking event by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen, we baked honeycomb buns aka Khaliat Nahal.This bread is very easy to make with a sweet or savoury filling in it, which is then covered with a sugar syrup, a typical Middle Eastern Confectionery. Khaliat Nahal means Bees Hive in Arabic hence these buns are baked close to each other in round pan to form a honeycomb like pattern. Traditionally these buns are made as sweet with plain cream cheese, glazed with honey flavoured syrup but Aparna suggested even the savoury ones.I chosed the sweet version and i went for semi sweet chocolate chips for the filling, trust me this chocolate stuffed buns are just fantabulous, none could stop with one. A pect evening snacks to enjoy with a cup of masal chai,these buns are seriously very addictive.


For Dough: 
1cup Lukewarm milk
1+1/2tsp Instant yeast
1tsp Sugar (for yeast)
3tbsp Sugar
2+1/2cup All purpose flour
1/4tsp Salt
40grms Butter (melted)
2tbsp Milk for brushing

Filling:
1cup Semisweet chocolate chips

For Sugar Syrup:
1/4cup Water
A pinch Saffron
1tbsp Honey
1/2tsp Lemon juice

Take the flour,salt,sugar and melted butter in a bowl, mix it for few minutes.

Combine the milk,yeast,sugar in a small bowl and keep for 5minutes.

Add this yeast mixture to the flour mixture and knead until you get a smooth,elastic dough.

The dough be soft and elastic but not sticky,if its sticky add more flour if needed.

Shape the dough as a ball and place it in a greased bowl, cover and let it rise for an hour.


Turn the dough to a work surface. Cut the dough into 2 halves and roll it as a rope, cut each rope into 1inch piece.

Take a piece and flatten it out a little, place enough chocolate chips for filling in the centre.

Bring the sides together,wrap the dough around the filling, pinching it closed at the top. Smoothen into a round ball.

Place this in a well greased round cake tin. Repeat the same process with the remaining pieces.

Arrange the filled balls of dough in a concentric cricles. Cover it with a paper towel and let it rise for about an hour.


Preheat the oven to 350F.

Brush the top with milk and bake the buns for about 20-25minutes until the crust turns golden brown.

Meanwhile take the sugar,water and saffron in a pan,bring it to boil,put the flame in simmer and cook until its turns bit thick.

Put off the stove,add the honey and lime juice.Mix well and let it cool.

Once the buns comes out of the oven, pour the syrup over the top of the buns.

If you want your honeycomb buns to be less sweet, just brush the syrup over the top.

Let it sit for a while, serve warm.