Based on our recipe for Asiago Ciabatta, these rolls offer the taste and texture of that traditional Italian bread. Thanks to their spongy nature, they'll soak up every last drop of your favorite soup or saucy dish.
To make the starter: Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. Mix all of the ingredients until well blended. Cover the bowl, and let rest at room temperature for 12 to 20 hours, until the mixture is very bubbly.
To make the dough: Mix the starter with the remaining ingredients for 2 to 4 minutes, using an electric mixer set on slow speed. Increase the mixer speed to medium, and mix for about 4 minutes; the dough will be soft and slightly sticky. Add additional water or flour if necessary.
Let the dough rise in a greased bowl, covered, for 1 to 2 hours, until very puffy.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, and shape it into a 6" x 12" rectangle. Using a bench knife or pizza wheel, cut out eight 3" square rolls. Place the rolls, floured side up, onto parchment paper. Let them rise for about 45 minutes, lightly covered, until they're puffy.
Place a baking stone in the top third of your oven, and preheat the oven to 450°F.
Bake the rolls for 13 to 15 minutes, until they're golden brown. Remove them from the oven, and cool on a rack.
We don't recommend kneading this dough by hand, but you can mix it in a bread machine set on the dough cycle, and transfer it to a greased bowl when the machine has finished the kneading process. If you're determined to give it a try, check out our blog post, Kneading wet dough by hand, for tips before you begin.
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