I had a ritual of making these buns on Fridays as an after-school snack for my children. Friends would pop in unexpectedly as I was pulling them out of the oven. The surprise visits became regular and always on a Friday. I later discovered that my son, Mahmoud, was spreading the word to come to our house to eat because “my mum makes so much food, plenty for everyone.” Well, he was right. And I always loved those moments in my kitchen with my children and their friends.
MAKES: 9 rolls
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 cups flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp instant dry yeast
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- ½ cup yogurt
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3–4 oz halloumi cheese, shredded
- 2 oz parmesan cheese, grated
- 3–4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ handful fresh thyme, stems removed, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Place the flour in a large bowl with the salt, sugar and yeast. Stir to combine. Add the water, yogurt and ¼ cup oil and mix to form a dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Put back into the bowl, cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise in a dark draft-free place for 1½ hours.
- Scatter all the cheeses and herbs on the dough and knead gently to incorporate. Divide and form the dough into 9 equal-sized balls and place side by side in a parchment-lined 9-inch-square baking pan. Cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise again for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush the risen buns with 1 Tbsp olive oil, sprinkle sesame seeds on top and bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Serve hot straight from the oven.
