Easy Gluten-free buns! (with Rice flour and Chia seeds)
Your quest for a wholesome, gluten-free bun ends here! I've tried numerous brands of gluten-free buns and several recipes and this Gluten-free bun recipe with Rice flour and Chia seeds with a nice airy texture and delicious bite is the hands-down winner!
Make sure the butter, eggs and milk are at room temperature. Separate out the egg whites and set aside.
Warm milk (1/3 cup) and water (200 ml) in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds until warm to touch.
Mixing
In a large mixing bowl, sieve white rice flour, sorghum flour, potato and tapioca starch, and baking powder. Add in psyllium husk, sugar, yeast, salt and chia seeds and whisk together.
Add the softened butter and the egg whites. Mix using a hand blender. Add in warm milk and water mixture alternating with olive oil.
Mix with a hand mixer or a stand mixer on medium setting for 3-4 minutes. At this stage the dough looks slightly thicker than cake batter.
First Proof
Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and using a spatula give it a nice mix folding in the dough. Unlike a regular flour dough, the dough is sticky.
Cover the mixing bowl with a plastic wrap. Then, wrap a kitchen towel/ thin blanket around the bowl (depending on the kitchen temperature). Place it in a draft-free place for 1 hour. This is our 1st proof.
Shaping and second proof
After an hour, the dough rises and becomes light and fluffy (almost doubling in size). Unwrap the mixing bowl and using a spatula, fold in the contents. Apply some oil to your hands and take a small portion of the dough. Shape the dough into a small ball and place on a muffin liner*. Place the dough balls on a baking tray.
Cover the baking tray with a plastic wrap, then with a kitchen towel to proof for about 20-25 minutes. This is our second proof. Halfway through the proofing time, you can preheat the oven to 375 deg F.
Topping and Baking
After the second proof, the buns are doubled in size and now it's time to top them. Lightly brush the top of the buns with some milk or beaten egg add a topping of your choice. Pumpkin seeds, white and black sesame seeds are my favorite toppings.
Place the baking tray in the middle rack of the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
Serving & Storing
After turning off the oven, take out the buns from the oven after 1-2 minutes. Let them cool down for about 10-15 minutes on a wire rack.
Add some melted butter for an extra shiny top. You can slice them and enjoy them as a sandwich with a tofu patty or a turkey patty. I also like to enjoy them with some fresh berry compote.
You can enjoy these gluten-free buns for 2-3 days at room temperature or upto a week in the refrigerator.