Green Onion/Scallion

Pull-Apart Scallion Swirly Bread

by:
December 19, 2016
5
1 Ratings
Pull-Apart Scallion Swirly Bread
Photo by Joy Huang | The Cooking of Joy
  • Makes 16 rolls
Author Notes

After making the kubaneh from the Breaking Breads cookbook, I felt like it needed an little extra something, so I added the sesame scallion glaze that I use to make hua juan and basically just made the best bread I've ever eaten. —Joy Huang | The Cooking of Joy

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • For the bread dough
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 1 packet (about 2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft
  • For the sesame scallion glaze
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
Directions
  1. Sprinkle the yeast over the water in a stand mixer bowl and allow to dissolve. Mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a separate bowl, then add to the yeast and water.
  2. Use the dough hook on low to combine the ingredients, then mix on medium-high until the dough comes away from the bowl cleanly. Give the dough a few folds to form a nice, tight ball. Cover the bowl and let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
  3. Lightly butter a large plate (I usually use the butter wrapper to do this). Divide the dough into 8 pieces, shape each into a tight ball, and place on the plate. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes.
  4. Mix the sesame oil, scallions, salt, and sugar in a small bowl. Generously grease a 9" springform pan with the softened butter.
  5. Use about a tablespoon of the butter to generously grease a clean 11" x 17" rimmed baking sheet. Place one of the balls of dough on the baking sheet, smear a little more butter on top, and start pressing it out to cover almost the entire sheet. Sprinkle some of the scallion filling across the middle lengthwise third of the dough. Fold the top third of the dough down and then the bottom third up (like a business letter fold, but lengthwise). Roll the dough up into a tight spiral and cut in half. Place the cut sides up in the buttered pan. Repeat with the remaining balls of dough. Cover the bottom of the pan with a large piece of aluminum foil or place in another pan to catch any melted butter that leaks out. Cover the pan and let the dough rise a final time for 45 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the bread for 15 minutes, then turn the heat down to 325°F. Bake for another 30-40 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. If there is any butter left, melt it and add it to any remaining filling mixture and brush on top of the rolls. Serve warm.
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1 Review

Genevieve
Genevieve January 5, 2019
EXCELLENT! I love to bake bread and have recently missed eating Chinese food since going home. This was a nice recipe to bake for my family: a familiar taste with a new twist on the way its put together (Baked, not steamed), and rolled so thin so you get so many layers!

This is a bit time consuming to make (3 rises + rolling out 8 pieces of dough thin enough to fill a half sheet pan) but my family loved it and I can’t wait to make it again.

I followed the recipe as closely as I could - minced 1 bunch of scallions (using both the green and white parts) and ended up using less butter than called for. Next time, I may try using the full stick, but applying some of the butter to the folded dough right before it is rolled to see if I can get more distinct layers like the picture. Make this dish - it’s kind of a showstopper in my opinion!