Tomato basil bread can be served as an appetizer or as a side with a bowl of soup or as an entrée for lunch or dinner. Because they have crispy sides they are easy to manage, not delicate, and thus would make a perfect portable snack or meal for your potluck, picnic, or tailgating events. This bread is also great for lunch boxes. Call it any way you want - bread, buns, bread rolls, or pinwheels 🙂 This version of tomato basil bread is no-bake, steamed, and then pan-fried. If you are looking for bread that can be made without an oven or for bread using a steamer or instant pot then you should definitely check this out. For steaming these buns, you can just use a wok or pan with a stainless plate with holes that allow steam to pass. One of the simplest and tastiest bread recipes that I have tried so far.
The dough is not, but the method for making this bread is similar to Shanghai Sheng Jian Bao or Bao Buns that are steamed and pan-fried.
If you are following my blog you will definitely know how I love preparing bread and flatbreads. Some time back we used to consistently post one bread recipe every week and I must proudly say some of them are popular bread recipes on this blog with more than a million views. Some of my reader’s favorite bread recipes include
Vienna Bread Zopf Pita Bread Thai roti bread Rumali Roti Tava Naan Amritsari kulcha Garlic Butter Naan Corn Flour Bread Oats Chapati Garlic Cheese Naan Dinner rolls
Due to personal commitments, I was unable to post bread recipes for a long time now. I have decided to start my old schedule back again, and I began last week with the trending WOOL ROLL BREAD - EGGLESS & VEGAN VERSION.
Delicious and flavorful with crispy sides Vegan and vegetarian Easily portable Filling is customizable You can make this even without an oven, in a bamboo steamer or stainless steel steamer, or even in an instant pot.
Preparing the dough Steaming the buns or bread Pan-frying the buns
Today I have made vegan/vegetarian and eggless version of steamed buns where the dough is flavored with fresh tomatoes and filled with cream cheese, basil leaves, and green onions (scallions). The filling or stuffing options are endless. You can use your favorite meat (pork, chicken), or for more vegetarian or vegan options use tofu, paneer, potatoes, mushrooms, and cheese.
3 medium-sized tomatoes 2 teaspoon Active dry or Instant yeast 1 ½ teaspoon Sugar 2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour 1 teaspoon Salt For the bread filling or stuffing ¼ cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves, chopped 200g of Cream cheese, softened (use vegan cream cheese for vegan version) ¼ cup of tightly packed Spring onions or Scallions or Green onions, chopped Oil for pan-frying the bread (coconut oil, olive oil, or any cooking oil of your choice)
Roughly chop the tomatoes, add them to the blender and blend it to smooth puree or paste. Transfer this to a bowl, add sugar, and mix. Now add yeast and mix. Let this sit for 10 minutes for the yeast to activate. Now add salt, flour in parts and mix until the dough comes together and forms a soft and slightly tacky dough. Knead it for 3 to 5 minutes if desired. Place this in a greased bowl, cover and let it sit for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
In a bowl, add cream cheese, basil leaves, spring onions, and mix. Keep this aside.
Transfer the dough to a floured working surface and sprinkle some flour on top of the dough. Using a rolling pin, roll it to a rectangle of â…› to ÂĽ inch thickness. Make sure the dough is smooth and evenly thick. Add dollops of filling and evenly spread it all over the dough. Starting at the longer side, roll this dough to form a log. (Check video for more details) Cut the ends if desired. Make 8 equal bread or buns. Transfer this to a parchment-lined tray. Cover this and let it sit for another 20 to 30 minutes.
Heat a large steamer on medium-high heat. You can grease the steamer plate with oil or line it with parchment paper. Place the bread and steam it for 12 minutes on medium-high heat. Switch off the flame. Let this sit for 5 minutes.
Heat 1 tablespoon to 2 tablespoon of oil in a pan or wok on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the steamed bread (4 at time or all 8) depending on the size of the pan. Once bread starts becoming golden brown at the bottom, flip and cook on the other side till it becomes golden in color.
Tomato Basil bread is ready. Serve hot with chili sauce or soy sauce or simply tomato ketchup and enjoy.
Once the dough is formed, place the parchment paper in the inner pot of the Instant pot and cover the pot with the glass lid. Select YOGURT mode and proof the dough for 1 hour or until doubled in size. Once the dough has risen, follow the same steps given above to form a log and cut them into 8 equal bread roll pieces. Pour 2 to 3 cups of water in the steel insert of your instant pot (IP). Place trivet or ring. Use saute mode, let water get heated up, and start boiling. Place the cut bread on a steamer pan, plate or steamer, or bamboo basket lined with parchment paper on the trivet and close the instant pot lid. Keep the pressure valve venting and not sealing. The timer does not work on venting mode and instant pot will not beep here, so set an external timer. Choose STEAM mode and steam for 5 to 6Â minutes. After the cooking time is done, let this sit for another 2 to 3 minutes before removing it from the IP. Turn on the saute mode of your instant pot and heat 2 tablespoon of oil. Place the steamed bread in two batches. Once bread starts becoming golden brown at the bottom, flip and cook on the other side till it becomes golden in color.
Definitely yes. You can just steam the buns/rolls and serve them with chili sauce or tomato ketchup. It will be similar to potstickers or dim sum or momos. Once you have formed a log and cut them into 8 equal pieces, just lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until hardened. Now remove and store it in a zip lock bag in the freezer. To cook the bread, simply follow the instructions given under steaming. You don’t have to thaw. Just steam with a little extra water for few more minutes than prescribed.
Check out the video!!!
Recipe card
Don’t miss to check out Vienna bread that garnered more than a million page views, other delicious bread and flatbread recipes on this blog. For more recent updates, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, GooglePlus. Click below to save it on Pinterest
