Rosemary, Caraway Seed and Cracked Wheat Rolls

Combine the cracked wheat, water and salt in a bowl and leave to soak for 30 minutes.

Drain well then place in a clean tea towel and wring out as much water as possible. 

Dough: Combine all the dry ingredients, rosemary and caraway seeds in a large bowl then stir in the cracked wheat mixture, turning to coat the grains in the flour.

Stir the warm milk, honey and butter together then add to the bowl and stir to make a soft, sticky dough.

Tip onto a lightly floured bench and knead for 3 minutes until smooth and elastic. Try not to work in too much extra flour when kneading. Form into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and leave for 1–2 hours in a warm place until doubled in volume.

Tip onto the bench and cut into 12 even pieces. Roll out into 40cm ropes then tie each piece into a double knot. It’s easier to roll out if the bench is mostly free of flour. 

Place the rolls on a lined baking sheet, spacing them 4cm apart. Cover loosely with a clean tea towel and leave to rise for 40 minutes. 

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

To cook: Gently brush the rolls with egg wash and sprinkle with sea salt and sesame seeds.

Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and the rolls sound hollow when tapped on the base. Serve warm with butter or olive oil. Makes 12 rolls

Cook’s tip:The cooked rolls freeze really well in a sealed plastic bag. To re-heat them, place the frozen rolls in a baking dish and cover with foil. Place in a preheated 180°C oven for about 30 minutes or until fully thawed and hot.