Chop Bouie

homemade hamburger buns

Despite my obsession with expensive electronics, I don’t like to spend money, at all. And so, for example, when I needed hamburger buns for some veggie burgers I planned to make (recipe forthcoming), my first thought was to make them myself. After all, where’s the sense in dropping a few dollars when you already have all the ingredients! As it turns out, if you want to go to bed at a reasonable hour, it’s probably best to just buy the buns. That said, if you have the time and inclination, homemade hamburger buns are a worthwhile endeavor. Not only are they more delicious than any bun you’ll buy in the store, but they’re easy to make – if time consuming – and will impress your friends, who probably aren’t accustomed to that level of effort for a sandwich.

A few tips:

1. For whole wheat buns, substitute one cup of all-purpose flour with wheat flour. The buns will be a little more dense, but still delicious.
2. Once baked, these last for about a week if sealed properly. But they freeze well, so remember that if you find yourself unable to use all of the buns.
3. Before baking, I recommend brushing the tops with melted butter. Not only will it help the buns brown in the oven, but it will keep them moist.

Homemade Hamburger Buns (adapted from many sources)

Makes eight buns

• 1 packet dry yeast, activated
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups (15 oz) all-purpose flour

In a medium bowl, combine milk, egg, oil, sugar and salt. Add yeast mixture, and stir again until combine. Add all of the flour and still until it forms a moist (but not sticky) dough. If you’re using a stand mixer, mix at low speed for ten minutes. Otherwise, kneed by hand for fifteen minutes. The finished dough should be smooth and spring back when poked.

Coat a bowl with a teaspoon of olive oil, add dough, cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about an hour.

Dust work surface with flour, and turn out the dough on top. Divide into 8 pieces and shape into a tight bowl. Transfer balls to a baking sheet until they look puffy and hamburger-sized, about 40 minutes. Heat oven to 375˚F. If you’re using it, brush risen hamburger buns with butter or oil, and then bake the buns until golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing. Enjoy.