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Cajun French Quarter Rolls

Course Bread, Breakfast, Side

Ingredients

Sponge:

  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • pinch of sugar
  • 1 3/4 cups warm water
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

Dough:

  • 2 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/4-3 1/2 cups bread flour

Cajun Spice Mixture:

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, black pepper and cayenne or red chili powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon thyme and oregano
  • pinch of allspice and mace

Instructions

  • Mix the sponge and let stand 4-6 hours or up to one day in the fridge. Add salt and 1/2 cup of flour to the sponge and mix well and then proceed to mix in 1/2 cup of flour at a time till a dough forms.  Turn out and knead till smooth and elastic not adding too much flour.
  • Add salt and 1/2 cup of flour to the sponge and mix well and then proceed to mix in 1/2 cup of flour at a time till a dough forms.  Turn out and knead till smooth and elastic not adding too much flour. 
  • Let rise two hours, or till tripled. Meanwhile, mix together the spice mixture.  I only used a pinch of cayenne and it was a nice heat.  If you know how hot your spices are you can adjust to your liking.
  • Sprinkle your work surface with one tablespoon of the mixture and turn out the dough.  Pat it into a 10"x18" rectangle and sprinkle with one tablespoon more of the spice mixture.  Fold the two long edges into the center to meet and sprinkle the remaining spice over it.  Fold in half lengthwise and punch the seems together I roll out the log to 30" long.  Cut in half and then cut each piece into 3" sections to make 5 rolls.  Set 10 rolls on a greased sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.
  • Let rise 30 minutes or till doubled. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 
  • Slash each roll in 1-2 places, 1/4" deep or less.  Bake 20-25 minutes till golden.  Serve warm.

Notes

I like to put a pan of water in the bottom to create a steamy oven.  I also spritz the rolls with water before I put them in the oven, and then once every couple minutes for the first 5 or so.  This helps them grow and helps the crust become nice a chewy.