Homemade Banh Mi Rolls

Directions

1. MIX AND RISE: Put the vitamin C, salt, sugar, yeast, vital wheat gluten (VWG), and flour in the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer. With the paddle attachment in place, mix on the lowest speed for 1 minute, adding the shortening midway. Stop to add water. Restart on the lowest speed and continue mixing for about 1 minute to form a shaggy ball. Let sit for 5 minutes, uncovered, to hydrate. Lightly oil a bowl for rising the dough. Set aside.
2. Pull the dough off the paddle, attach the dough hook, and mix on medium-low (speed 2 on a KitchenAid) for 2 minutes, until smooth and medium-firm. The dough should wrap around the hook in the last 30 seconds. If the dough is soft and wraps around the hook early on, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of VWG to stiffen and build structure.
3. Transfer the dough to an unfloured work surface and briefly knead it into a ball. If the dough feels soft and moist (think perspiration on a humid day), lightly dust the work surface with flour and knead it in. Press the barely tacky, finished dough and it should immediately bounce back yet a shallow indentation should remain. Put it into the oiled bowl, turn to coat, then tightly cover with plastic wrap. Set it in a warm spot to rise for 45 minutes, or until doubled.
4. CUT, ROUND, AND SHAPE: Uncover the bowl and set the plastic wrap aside to reuse later. Invert the dough onto your work surface. Cut the dough in half. Form each half into a brick shape, then cut crosswise into 3 pieces to yield 6 pieces total.
5. To round each dough piece, use both hands to cup it, then pull, tuck, and gather the edges toward the center to form a small mound. Aim to create a taut outer surface. Put the mound, seam side down, on your work surface, then loosely cover with the saved plastic. Let the dough mounds rest and rise for 10 minutes. Line a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet (I use a half sheet pan) with parchment paper. Set aside.
6. Uncover the mounds and save the plastic (you’ll need it again). To shape each roll, put the dough smooth side down. Press and pat into a big thick disk, about 4 1/4-inches wide and 5/8-inch thick.
7. Imagine a scroll that rolls inward from the top and bottom. Roll the top down and over twice, pressing each time to seal well. When done, the top should be rolled to the mid-line. Roll the bottom up and over twice, sealing well each time. Firmly pinch the top and bottom together to form a center seam and create surface tension. Pinch the ends to seal.
8. Gently roll and rock the dough back and forth to form a torpedo about 6 1⁄2-inches long and 1 3⁄4-inches wide at the center. Place the roll, seam side- down, on the lined baking sheet. Repeat, arranging the rolls in a 3 by 2 formation on the prepared baking sheet.
9. PROOF AND BAKE: Smear a little oil or use nonstick spray on 2 pieces of plastic wrap (use the saved one plus a new piece), then use them to loosely cover the rolls. Let rise until more than doubled, close to a full rise, which will take about 1 hour at moderate room temperature. If it’s a hot day, preheat the oven after shaping the rolls.
10. Monitor the rolls via these benchmarks: After 20 minutes of rising, or when most rolls are 2-inches wide, set up the oven for baking. Place a broiler pan or heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet on the oven floor, its rim positioned near the oven edge (you’ll be pouring hot water into this pan). Put a rack in one of the lower positions, about 5 inches from the water pan, leaving space to later safely pour water into the pan. Place a baking stone (or inverted heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet) on the rack. Preheat to 475° F. At 45 minutes, or when the rolls have nearly doubled, remove the plastic wrap. Let the rolls dry and finish rising for 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, bring some water (about 1 cup) to a boil, then lower the heat to keep hot. Find a 1-quart measuring cup or similar vessel to later pour hot water into the pan in the oven. Partially fill a spray bottle with water. Set aside. Around the 1 hour mark, or when the rolls are porpoise-like and 2 1⁄2 to 2 3⁄4 inches at the middle, it’s time to bake. Pour a good 1⁄2 cup of hot water into the pouring vessel. Set near the stove.
11. To slash each roll, hold a sharp knife nearly horizontal to the roll surface and make one angled cut on the midline. Mist the rolls 5 or 6 times with the spray bottle. Slide the baking sheet onto the stone, carefully pour water into the pan on the oven floor, then close the door. Lower the heat to 425° F and bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until golden brown and hollow sounding when thumped on the bottom crust.
12. When the rolls are light golden, usually after baking for 15 minutes, rotate the pan and/or shift the rolls to expose them equally to the oven temperature variation. (If the rolls achieve that color after baking for only 10 minutes, lower the temperature to 400° F.)
13. When done, turn the oven off. Let the rolls further crisp and brown in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on a rack for about 45 minutes before eating. The sides will slightly soften. If the rolls are a little flat, don’t fret because you’ll be filling them to a beautiful plumpness. Use the rolls as is or reheat to a shattering crispness, per the master banh mi recipe.