Brioche Buns

Soft, buttery buns. The perfect vessel for fried chicken, bean burgers or even ice cream. A simple recipe and satisfying to make. This recipe uses a Tangzhong, which is just a portion of flour and liquid which is gently cooked in a pan, this is a Japanese method which results in a wonderfully soft bread.

Makes 7 buns

Ingredients:

Tangzhong:

• 2 tablespoons bread flour

• 2 tablespoons water

• 4 tablespoons milk

Dough:

• 120g milk @ 30 degrees celsius

• 1 tablespoons instant yeast

• 320g Bread flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 35g sugar

• 1 whole egg

• 1 egg yolk

• 42g unsalted butter, softened

To finish:

• 1 egg for egg wash

• black or white sesame seeds to sprinkle on top (optional)

Method:

1. First, let's make Tangzhong. Combine the milk, water and bread flour in a pan, then gently heat and whisk continuously until it thickens. Put to one side ready for the dough mixture.

2. Combine the warm milk, sugar and yeast and whisk, set aside. Its ready when the yeast has dissolved and froth forms.

3. In a stand mixer, add the flour, salt, the milk/yeast mixture, the egg and yolk. Mix gently until a dough starts to form.

4. Once a dough has started to form, slowly add in a small piece of the softened butter, about 1/4 of teaspoon. Keep slowly adding the butter until its well combined into the dough. The dough should be soft and elastic.

5. Form your dough into a ball, then place in an oiled bowl with a damp tea towel on top, and leave to prove until doubled in size, this should take between 1-2 hrs.

6. Now the dough is proved, scrape it onto a lightly floured work surface. Cut off portions of dough which weigh between 100-105g. This way the buns will be equal in size.

7. when all of the portions are weighed out, press the dough flat, then bring the edges of the dough into the centre to create a ball. Place the dough ball seam side down and, with your hand like a claw, work the dough into a tight ball by rolling it in circular motions on the worktop. Repeat with all dough balls, and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Make sure they are a few inches apart, as they will rise.

8. Cover with a damp towel and leave to rise for another hour or two, until they have doubled in size.

9. Once risen, preheat the oven to 190 degrees celsius. Then coat your buns in egg wash, and sprinkle on sesame seeds if you're using them.

10. Bake in the oven 16-18 mins.

11. When your buns are beautifully golden, place them on a wire rack to cool.

12. You got buns, hun 🍔