Friday, April 26, 2013

How to Make Your Own Hamburger Buns

So last week Hubby was craving for a good burger. Although KL has a whole bunch of new burger places, we were too lazy to go out just for a burger (and queue!), so I told Hubby I will make him one at home.


Meeting the criteria of a good burger


One of the criteria for a good burger is having good burger buns. For convenience sake, in the past I've always used burger buns out of a plastic pack. This time, I up the ante and made my own burger buns. This recipe, adapted from The Kitchn caught my attention since the buns looked soft and fluffy. I don't always have luck making bread/buns as they sometimes don't rise but no problems on this occasion as my burger buns rose beautifully.

Texture-wise, it was as I imagined it to be - soft and fluffy, and it remained soft even on the next day. I used these buns to make two different types of burgers (recipes which I will share later). If you want the burger buns to taste even better, just lightly toast it with some butter on a frying pan.

These burger buns are very easy to make, and most importantly, they taste great - would definitely make my own burger buns for now on. These buns would also be great with any of your sandwich fillings.



Nice and soft buns


Burger buns all ready for our Burger Night!




Homemade Hamburger Buns
Recipe adapted from The Kitchn
Preparation time: 15-20 minutes (plus 1 1/2 hours rising time)
Cooking time: 15-20 minutes
Makes 8 buns

Ingredients
1 tablespoon active-dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup milk, at room tempeature
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups (15 oz) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl, if mixing/kneading by hand), stir the yeast into the warm water and let it sit until dissolved, about 5 minutes.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg, oil, sugar, and salt until combined. Add this to the yeast mixture (from Step 1) and stir well. Add all the flour and stir until it forms a shaggy dough - if it's still very sticky, then add 1-2 tbsp flour gradually until you get a shaggy dough.



3. Using your stand mixer, knead on low speed for 10 minutes. Similarly, if you are kneading by hand, do it  for 10 minutes until the dough feels smooth, slightly tacky, and springs back when poked.

4. Return the dough to the mixing bowl and cover with a cloth/cling film. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about an hour.



5. Dust your work surface with a little flour and turn out the risen dough on top. Divide the dough into 8 portions and shape each into a tight ball. Transfer the balls to a baking sheet and let rise until they look puffy and hamburger-sized, roughly about 30-40 minutes.



6. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.

7. Melt the butter and brush it over the risen hamburger buns. This helps the top of the buns brown and keeps the crust soft. Bake the buns until golden, about 15-20 minutes.



8. Let the buns cool to room temperature before slicing and using. They are best if eaten within the next day or two, but will keep in an airtight container on the counter for up to a week.



Hubby gives these burger buns his stamp of approval :D



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*This recipe was featured on Fabulous Food Blog Recipes on 26 April 2013.

"Hats Off" with Michelin-star Chefs at The Westin KL

“Hats Off” is Starwood Hotels & Resort’s branded culinary showcase - a platform for multiple renowned chefs and the hotel group’s talented culinary maestros to come together and create an extraordinary gastronomic journey for all fine cuisine enthusiasts. The event concept was developed in 2008 and was first kicked off at The Westin Beijing Financial Street , by its Executive Chef, Stephane Tremblay. The yearly event gained huge popularity within the city and the region. This year, the event is set to take other parts of Asia Pacific by storm, starting with the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur at The Westin Kuala Lumpur.


A gastronomic tribute for serious culinary enthusiasts

Staged for the first time ever in Kuala Lumpur, “Hats Off”will bring together international and local masters of their own culinary expertise, through a series of intimate and engaging dining experiences. For 5 days in May (from 8 to 12 May 2013), the “Hats Off” culinary event will see 3 international acclaimed Michelin-star chefs – Jeremy Biasiol, Serge Dansereau and Alvin Leung – take to the kitchens of the award-winning restaurants at The Westin Kuala Lumpur, to share with their signature dishes and personal brand of culinary specials with KL-ites.

Jeremy Biasol of 1 Michelin-star Mirror Restaurant in HK

Currently the most buzzed about chef and restaurant in Hong Kong, Jeremy Biasol’s 1 Michelin Star Mirror Restaurant was awarded Asia’s top 300 best restaurant by the Miele Guide 2012. On 8 and 9 May, local food enthusiasts will get to sample Jeremy’s Michelin-star cuisine through a specially-crafted set menu at Qba, the popular Latin grill and bar venue. Some of the dishes to look forward to are Crab jelly with cauliflower sauce, caviar and crab roes; Beef tenderloin Rossini, perigueux sauce with potatoes cromesquis black truffles and Half Maine lobster with eggplant, lobster and comte cheese sauce.


Serge Dansereau of The Bather's Pavilion in Australia

Featured as the iconic chef in 2012 MasterChef Australia, the renowned Serge Dansereau is the owner of The Bathers’ Pavilion in Balmoral Beach, Sydney, Australia. Apart from being a chef at heart, Serge has written 6 books, with the most recent “Summer Food” released in November 2011. Join Serge, as he takes over the award-winning Prego Italian restaurant on 11 and 12 May, with simply divine creations such as Galantine of quail, foie gras and leek ash confit leg, verjuice jelly and mizuna; Kombu-baked ocean trout with black salsify baby gold beetroot, dried oyster, woodland sorrel and Duck magret with confit peach, pistachio cream witlof, crisp tongue and kimchi sauce.

Alvin Leung of 2-Michelin star Bo Innovation in HK

To tease your Oriental palette, Alvin Leung will lead the kitchen brigade over at Five Sen5es, on 11 and 12 May. Renowned for his unique 'X-treme Chinese' cuisine, Alvin Leung takes traditional Chinese recipes and blends them with modern ingredients and cooking techniques. Give in to culinary temptations like Scallop in Shanghainese “jolo” sauce, crispy woba and peas foam; Organic Chicken served with 7-years aged Acquerello rice, yellow chicken stock, wooden fungus with sand ginger chicken jus and Cherry tomato baked in Chinese filo with fermented Chinese olives “lam kok” and tomato marshmallow with green oil. His restaurant Bo Innovation in Hong Kong is the only independent restaurant to win two Michelin Stars by the coveted Michelin guide.


"Hats Off" is priced at RM348++ per person (inclusive of wines) and at RM298++ per person (excluding alcoholic beverages), with specially designed 5-course set menus, and is only available for dinner at the above mentioned restaurants.
* 10% discount for SPG Restaurants & Bars members
* Group discounts are also available through the hotel



Gala Spectacular on 10 May 2013

On 10 May 2013, the Hats Off Gala Dinner will see the 3 Celebrity Chefs work alongside Starwood Kuala Lumpur’s very own masters in their own right – Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur’s Executive Chef Antoine Rodriguez, Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur’s Executive Chef, Rajesh Kanna and The Westin Kuala Lumpur’s Executive Sous Chef, Fahdrul Abd. Malek – all renowned and familiar faces to the local KL dining crowd.

Each of the chefs will present 2 canapés and one course. And whilst diners enjoy the sumptuous meal, they are able to view how these delectable dishes are prepared by the master chefs via a special live feed from the kitchens. Complementing the spectacular cuisine that evening will be a wide range of exquisite wines available from many renowned wineries like M. Chapoutier, Paul Bouchard, Banfi, Torres, De Bortoli, Pascal Jolibvet and more.

To be staged at the Westin Grand Ballroom, the dinner spectacular will see diners savour signature canapés and cocktails before embarking on a true gastronomic delight of a 6-course set menu, paired with a wide range of exquisite wines. This gala dinner is priced at RM448++ per person, inclusive of wines and champagne or RM388++ per person, exclusive of alcoholic beverages. SPG Restaurants & Bars members receive 10% discount.


Personalized and exclusive cooking class

There is also an opportunity to get close to your favourite chef personality and learn his trade secrets. Simply sign up for any of the 2 Master classes, to be presented by Alvin Leung at Five Sen5es or Serge Dansereau at Prego. Treat yourself to a personalized and exclusive cooking class like no other.

Date : 11 May 2013

Time : 3 pm to 5 pm

Venue : Five Sen5es and Prego

Price : RM188++ per person per class

Limited to 20 persons per session, advance reservations is a must.



For more information or to make reservation, visit www.thewestinkualalumpur.com or call +60 3 2731 8333 or email westindining@westin.com
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