Mega Dough Balls with Garlic Butter Recipe

This Mega Dough Balls recipe is a soft and fluffy recipe, which is made with a simple homemade yeast dough and a rich garlic-herb butter. It’s the perfect side dish for sharing, ready after a couple of hours of rising time.

Mega Dough Balls Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 800g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
• 200g fine ground semolina
• 2 x 7g sachets of dried yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the Garlic Butter:

• 200g salted butter, at room temperature
• 1 bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley (30g), finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely grated
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

How To Make Mega Dough Balls with Garlic Butter

1. Make the Dough: On a clean surface, pile the bread flour, semolina, and 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt. Make a large well in the center. Add the yeast and sugar to 650ml of lukewarm water, stir, and let it sit for a few minutes until foamy.
2. Knead the Dough: Gradually pour the yeast mixture into the well. Use a fork to slowly bring the flour from the inside of the well into the liquid. When it becomes too hard to mix with a fork, use floured hands to bring it together into a ball. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, until you have a smooth, springy, and soft dough.
3. First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and leave it in a warm place for about 45 minutes, or until it has doubled in size.
4. Make the Garlic Butter: While the dough rises, place the finely chopped parsley in a bowl. Beat in the room-temperature butter, then grate in the garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper, mix well, and set aside.
5. Shape and Second Rise: Line three baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide the proved dough into 16 equal pieces (about 100g each). Roll each piece into a ball and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Cover the dough balls with a damp tea towel and let them prove once more for 20 minutes, until they are slightly risen.
6. Bake and Serve: Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Bake the dough balls for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are pale golden and sound hollow when tapped on the base. Let them cool slightly, then serve warm, allowing people to tear off chunks and dip them into, or spread them with, the garlic-herb butter.

Recipe Tips

• How to get a good rise? The most important secret is the temperature of your water. It must be lukewarm (like a baby’s bath, around 110°F) but not hot, as hot liquid will kill the yeast and your bread will not rise.
• How do I know when the dough is kneaded enough? A properly kneaded dough will be smooth, elastic, and will spring back when you gently press it with a finger. The 10-minute kneading time is a good guideline for developing the gluten properly.
• Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes. You can let the dough perform its first rise slowly overnight in the refrigerator. This cold fermentation can even develop a more complex flavor. Just let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before you shape it.
• What if my dough is too sticky? This is an enriched dough that can be slightly sticky. Try to avoid the temptation to add too much extra flour during kneading, as this can make the final bread dense. A little bit of flour on your hands and the work surface is all you need.

What To Serve With Mega Dough Balls

This is the ultimate side dish for any Italian-American meal or a hearty soup. It’s perfect for dipping and sharing. Serve it with:

• A big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs or a hearty bolognese sauce
• Classic lasagna or baked ziti
• A simple marinara sauce for dipping as an appetizer
• A hearty beef stew or tomato soup

How To Store Mega Dough Balls

• Room Temperature: These are best eaten warm on the day they are made. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Reheat: Gently reheat the dough balls, wrapped in foil, in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes to restore their softness and warm them through.

Mega Dough Balls Nutrition Facts

• Serving: 1 dough ball
• Calories: 380 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 65g
• Protein: 12g
• Fat: 10g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Sugar: 3g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used. It does not include the garlic butter for dipping.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Helen’s peanut butter & banana sandwiches Recipe
• Vegan bread & butter pudding Recipe
• Bread & butter pudding Recipe