Bolillo - Popular Mexican Bread

Updated at: Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:30:13 GMT

Step 1

In a big bowl, add the flour and salt and create a well in the middle with your fingers after combining them. In the well, add the yeast and a few tablespoons of water. Mix with a fork until a kind of paste is formed, add the sugar and keep mixing. Once the sugar is well incorporated, add the rest of the water.

Step 2

Start mixing with your hand, and once the dough starts to stay together, pour it onto a clean surface and work it with your hands. Do this for a couple of minutes until all the flour is incorporated but the dough isn’t too smooth, a shaggy and rough dough is what you’re looking for.

Step 3

Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and cover with a wet towel. Let it rest in a dry place for 2 hours.

Step 4

Once the two hours have passed, punch the dough lightly and shape it into a ball. Divide it into 8 pieces with a knife and roll them into smaller balls. Cover with the same wet towel and let them rest for an additional 20 minutes

Step 5

It’s shaping time. Flatten the dough balls slightly, fold the bottom and the top towards the middle. Flip the folded dough around and with both your hands roll it from the middle outwards, adding pressure as you go away from the middle (check the video on Instagram/TikTok for reference)

Step 6

Place the newly formed bolillos onto an oven tray. Cover with the towel and rest for another hour.

Step 7

Fill a casserole dish with boiling water and place it at the bottom of your oven. Preheat the oven to 220°C.

Step 8

With a sharp blade (a knife or a razor), cut the bolillos down the middle. Sprinkle them with some flour and brush them lightly with water

Step 9

Before placing the bread in the oven, throw something like a ⅓ cup of water in the oven to add even more steam. Cook the bolillos on the middle/high section of your oven for 15-20 minutes (checking often to see that they’re not burning)

Step 10

Lastly, let them cool down on a cooling rack and they’re ready!

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Delicious

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Sweet

Under 30 minutes

Crispy