Fluffy Beer Buns with Fennel and Sesame Seeds

Beer Buns (Panini alla Birra)

Category: Bread
Servings: 6

Ingredients

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough:
   Begin by preparing the dough for your beer buns. Pour the beer at room temperature into a jug and add the fresh yeast. Stir gently to dissolve the yeast in the beer.

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2. Combine the Ingredients:
   Pour the beer and yeast mixture into a large mixing bowl, where you’ve already sifted the all-purpose flour. Begin to mix the ingredients by hand, forming a rough dough.

3. Add Salt and Knead:
   Once the mixture starts coming together, add the fine salt. Continue kneading the dough with your hands until it becomes almost homogeneous and smooth.

4. Rest the Dough:
   Transfer the dough onto a clean work surface and continue kneading for a few more minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, cover it with an inverted bowl, and let it rest for 10 minutes.

5. Reinforce the Dough:
   After the resting period, give the dough another quick knead to strengthen it before shaping it. Once the dough feels elastic, form it into a smooth ball.

6. Shape the Dough:
   Roll the dough into a long log, about 16-17 inches in length, and divide it into 6 equal pieces, each weighing approximately 100g. Shape each piece into a round ball, cover them with a kitchen towel, and let them rest for about 10 minutes.

7. Form the Buns:
   After the resting time, gently elongate each dough ball into a bun shape. Place each bun onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they’re spaced apart. Let the buns rise for an additional hour, covering them with a kitchen towel.

8. Boil and Blanch the Buns:
   While the buns are rising, fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the baking soda to the boiling water to give the buns their characteristic texture.

   Once the water is boiling, carefully place each bun, still on its parchment paper, into the pot. The buns will quickly flip over in the water, which is perfectly normal. After about 30 seconds on each side, remove the buns with a slotted spoon and place them onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

9. Bake the Buns:
   Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Once all buns are blanched, use a sharp knife to make diagonal slashes on the tops of each bun. Sprinkle the fennel seeds, sesame seeds, and flaked salt on top for an extra burst of flavor.

10. Final Baking:
    Bake the buns for about 20-25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown on top and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Let them cool on a wire rack.

These beer buns are deliciously fluffy with a slight chewiness from the boiling process, and the beer adds a subtle depth of flavor that pairs perfectly with the fennel and sesame seeds. Enjoy them fresh, or use them for sandwiches to make a memorable meal.