People in Poland love meat. It is one of the staples in our diet. In fact, you will find all kinds of meat items being used. From poultry like chicken and duck to red meat like pork, beef and lamb. While meat is used in all kinds of recipes, the Polish hot dog is one of the favorites in most households. Children in particular devour this meal.
To really enjoy a Polish hot dog, you need to have the right combination of the perfect sausage (meat) and the best Polish hot dog buns. While you get many different varieties in the market, nothing beats freshly baked hot dog buns from the oven. Luckily, they are easy to make.
What’s A Polish Hot Dog?
A Polish hot dog is a sausage. Don’t mistake it for the more popular American variety. The Polish hot dog is made up of a mixture of meat. The usual combination is beef and pork though you will also find sausages that are made up of just pork too.
These sausages are not bland. They are spiced up with garlic and pimento. You’ll also find some that include other spices like cloves and marjoram. The combination of spices and meat gives the Polish hot dog a flavor that is loved across the country.
The best Polish hot dogs however are the smoked variety. Smoking the meat blends all the flavors together.
Polish Hot Dog Buns Recipe
Part I – Mix All The Ingredients For The Dough
In a large bowl, mix 4 cups (480 gms) of all-purpose flour, 2.5 oz (70 gms) of soft butter, 2 tbsps of instant yeast, 1 egg, 1 tbsp of sugar, 1 tsp of salt, and ⅘ cup of warm water. Use your hand to mix the ingredients together.
Initially, you will find that the dough is very sticky. As the ingredients mesh together, the dough will obtain a smooth consistency. The act of kneading the dough activates the gluten and gives your Polish hot dog buns a lovely texture.
Part II – Place The Dough In A Big Bowl And Cover It
Once the dough is ready, place it in a nice large bowl. Use a clean kitchen towel to cover the bowl. This will keep the dough from drying due to exposure to air.
Part III – Wait For An Hour
During this hour the yeast will do its work and the dough will rise. The rule of thumb is to keep the dough for an hour or till the dough doubles in size. Usually it takes about an hour for it to happen.
It is important to note that the yeast needs a warm environment. So keep the bowl in a warm spot next to the oven or stove.
Part IV – Preheat The Oven To 374°F (190°C)
Preheating the oven is an important part of the recipe. It ensures that the temperature of the oven is perfect so that the bread can rise. Too hot and the top of the bread will burn but the insides will not cook. Too cold and the bread will not rise. This will result in hard bread.
Part V – Divide The Dough Into 8 Pieces
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. These pieces will give you 8 delicious Polish hot dog buns.
Part VI – Roll The Buns On A Floured Flat Surface
For this part, you will need a flat surface. Most people choose to use the kitchen platform. Spread flour across the surface and roll the buns here. There is a technique to doing this. First, form a ball with the dough. Place it on the floured surface and roll such that it elongates. The resultant oval-shaped bun is what you are aiming for.
The trick is to ensure that the dough is smooth. Dough that is not smooth will result in cracks when exposed to heat in the oven.
Part VII – Brush The Buns With Egg Wash
Part VIII – Sprinkle With Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are an optional ingredient. The seeds give the Polish hot dog buns a nice taste. Some people prefer not to include them though.
Part IX – Bake For 20 Minutes
Place the Polish hot dog buns on a pan lined with parchment paper. Bake them for 20 minutes. You will notice that the top of the buns browns nicely.
Tips For Making Polish Hot Dog Buns
Check The Expiry Date Of The Yeast Packet.
A lot of people forget to do this. They usually just pull out a packet of yeast that was in their cupboard for some time. If your yeast is not good, then your dough will not rise. There isn’t a way of rescuing the recipe after that. So make sure that you check the yeast you use.
Keep The Dough In A Warm Place
The trick to making good Polish hot dog buns is to make sure that the bread rises. In order to do this, you need two things: Good yeast and warm temperatures. Now you can’t always account for the weather but you can place the dough in a warm area. Close to a stove that is in use or next to your oven while it is being preheated are good examples.
Also, watch for drafts. This could be when doors or windows are kept open. The dough should not be placed in the path of any such drafts.
Roll The Buns So That They Are Smooth
The Polish hot dog buns should be rolled out nicely. The dough should be smooth. If this is not done right, the heat in the oven will cause them to crack.
If You Have Extra Dough, You Can Store It In The Fridge Overnight
Make sure that you bring the dough to room temperature before you use it though. The cool air in the fridge inactivates the yeast. Once you bring it out, the dough will begin to warm up again. You can even knead the dough a little and keep it to rise again.
Polish Hot Dog Buns Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups (480g) of all-purpose flour
- 2.5oz (70g) of soft butter
- 2 tbsps of instant yeast
- 1 egg + 1 egg to brush the buns
- 1 tbsp of sugar
- 1 tsp of salt
- ⅘ cup of warm water
- sesame seeds to decorate (optionally)
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients for the dough together. Do it with your hand or using a food processor.
- Place the dough in a big bowl, then cover it with a clean kitchen cloth.
- Wait for about an hour until the dough doubles its size.
- Preheat the oven to 374°F (190°C).
- Divide the dough into 8 pieces.
- Using your hand, roll the buns on the floured flat surface. Form the ball first then, roll out the oval-shaped bun.
Make sure the dough is smooth, otherwise the bun will crack in the oven. - Brush the buns with egg wash.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds (optionally).
- Bake on the pan lined with parchment paper for 20 minutes.
Notes
- If your butter is not soft, melt it. You may add butter in a liquid form to the dough.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 309Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 352mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 10g
These data are indicative and calculated by Nutritionix
