Sliders are mini or small burgers. They are so small that a typical serving is usually 3 or 4 depending on the eating establishment. This version of slider rolls would have the buns aficionados screaming in frustration at me – “If the dough is not kneaded and shaped into perfect round little balls and then baked, then they are not rolls of any kind!” You may be of this opinion too and that’s quite okay; to each his own.
These rolls came about because I wanted to play around with multiple ways of using various dough(s). The “dough” for these buns is really a thick, sticky batter. The same batter used to make our Portuguese-style pancakes. Instead of frying the batter, I dropped it into muffin tins and baked them up. It gave a good crust on the outside and a uniform crumb on the inside. At first I wasn’t sure how I was going to use the rolls and then it hit me – these buns are compact enough that they can take the weight of meat or seafood along with some veggies. Thus my version of slider rolls came into being.
For this recipe, you will need 2 standard-sized muffin tins/pans
Yield: 24
INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 heaped tablespoon granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt (pinch)
1 heaped teaspoon instant yeast
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (pinch)
3 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
¾ cup warm whole milk (110 – 115 degrees F)
Oil or softened butter to grease the muffin pans
DIRECTIONS
1. Add flour, sugar, salt, yeast and cinnamon to a large bowl and mix thoroughly
2. Lightly beat eggs and essence together.
3. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add eggs along with milk and mix to form a smooth thick batter.
4. Cover and set aside in a warm place to rise for 1½ hours or until doubled in quantity.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
6. Brush the muffin tins with oil or butter and set aside.
7. Spoon the risen batter into the cups of the muffin pans.
8. Bake for 20 – 22 minutes or until the rolls are brown and crusty.
9. Remove pans from the oven and transfer rolls to wire racks to cool.
10. Slice and stack with whatever filling you like and serve.
SERVING SUGGESTION
I served smoked-salmon sliders – smear the cut bun with sour cream or mayonnaise, add slice(s) of smoked salmon, a piece of torn lettuce and sliced tomato. Repeat until all the buns are sliced, and dressed.
