Description: Blaa is a soft and doughy white bread roll with a slightly crisp crust, originally from Waterford, Ireland. It’s perfect for making sandwiches or enjoying with your favorite spreads.

Preparation time: 20 minutes (plus rising time)

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Serving size: Approximately 6 blaa rolls

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• 500g (about 4 cups) strong white bread flour
• 10g (2 teaspoons) salt
• 10g (2 teaspoons) sugar
• 10g (2 teaspoons) butter, softened
• 10g (2 teaspoons) fresh yeast or 5g (1 ½ teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 300ml (1 ¼ cups) lukewarm water

For the Flour Paste:

• 50g (about 1/3 cup) strong white bread flour
• 50ml (3 ½ tablespoons) cold water

Instructions:

1. Activate the Yeast:

• If using fresh yeast, crumble it into a small bowl, add a pinch of sugar, and pour in a couple of tablespoons of lukewarm water. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes until it’s frothy.
• If using active dry yeast, mix it with a pinch of sugar and warm water in a small bowl. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.

2. Prepare the Dough:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, salt, sugar, and softened butter.
• Pour in the activated yeast mixture.
• Gradually add the lukewarm water and mix to form a soft dough.

3. Knead the Dough:

• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment for this step.

4. Let it Rise:

• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and allow it to rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until it has doubled in size.

5. Shape the Blaa:

• Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 6 equal portions.
• Shape each portion into a round roll and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

6. Make the Flour Paste:

• In a small bowl, mix the bread flour and cold water to create a smooth paste.

7. Coat with Flour Paste:

• Gently brush each blaa roll with the flour paste. This will give them a distinctive floury crust.

8. Second Rise:

• Cover the rolls with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes.

9. Preheat and Bake:

• Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).
• Bake the blaa rolls in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.

10. Cool and Serve:

• Allow the blaa rolls to cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, they are ready to be sliced and used for sandwiches or served with your favorite spreads.

Enjoy your homemade Blaa rolls, a delightful taste of Waterford’s culinary heritage!