These Pesto and Sundried Tomato Pull Apart Rolls are the perfect side for any meal. Light and fluffy and full of flavour!
With soup season sneaking up on us, my thoughts always turn to what delicious bread-y things I can snuggle up to my bowls of soup. Maybe that’s just me ;)
I think these Pesto and Sundried Tomato Pull Apart Rolls are the perfect thing! Light and fluffy, these rolls are also packed full of great flavour.
What makes these especially good for this time of year (the end of the growing season), is that you can make your own pesto from your big basil plant that’s been growing all Summer, using it up before the frost gets it. No big basil plant? No worries! Jarred pesto will work just fine here, as well.
The olive oil in the dough of these rolls produces a roll with a bit of a focaccia texture, while still being light and fluffy. It pairs perfectly with the pesto and sundried tomatoes.
I love to enjoy these warm from the oven or at least on the day they are baked. They do freeze well, if you have leftovers.
Cook’s Notes for Pesto and Sundried Tomato Pull Apart Rolls
Treat the amounts for the filling as flexible and feel free to put a little more or less of any of the ingredients you like. Want them super cheesy? Up the cheese. Love sundried tomatoes? Add a few more. Just remember that you have to roll it up, so not too much :)
When placing your rolls onto the baking sheet, you’ll want to leave a little bit of space between them, but not so much that they won’t be touching each other once risen. That way you will get the “pull apart”, rather than individual rolls.
Adapted from BBC Good Food
Pesto and Sundried Tomato Pull Apart Rolls
Light and fluffy pull apart rolls, filled with pesto, sundried tomato, cheese and basil.
Ingredients
Pesto (or use jarred pesto):
- 1 1/4 cups packed fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 Tbsp pine nuts or walnuts
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cloves garlic chopped
Roll Dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp instant or active dry yeast
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
Filling:
- 1/3 cup fresh or jarred pesto
- 3/4 cup oil-packed sundried tomatoes roughly chopped
- 1 1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese grated
- Handful basil leaves
Instructions
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For the pesto (if making): Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Set aside.
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For the roll dough: *If using dry active yeast, proof the yeast in 1/4 cup warm water, then reduce the amount of remaining water you add to 1 cup.
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Combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a kneading hook. Add the water to the flour mixture, along with the olive oil. Start mixing until the ingredients start to clump together as a dough. If the dough seems a little dry, add a bit more water. If sticky, add a bit more flour. Once combined, knead for 5-7 minutes by hand or for 3 minutes on medium speed in your mixer. The dough is ready when it feels soft and smooth.
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Place dough into a greased bowl, turning it over and coating the sides of the bowl in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place to double in size, 1-2 hours, depending on the room temperature.
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Line a baking tray with parchment. Uncover the dough and punch it down a couple of times. Turn out onto a floured work surface and dust the top of the dough with a little flour too, if it is sticky. Roll the dough out to a rectangle, roughly 16 x 12-inches. Spread the pesto over the dough, then scatter over the chopped sundried tomatoes, both cheeses and the basil leaves. Roll the dough up jelly roll style, rolling from one of the longer sides.
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Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 12 even pieces. Place rolls onto the prepared baking tray, cut-side up, 3 rolls across and 4 rolls down, making sure the open end of each roll is tucked in towards the centre on the pan. This will prevent the rolls from uncoiling during cooking. Leave a little space between each roll as they will grow and touch as they prove. Loosely cover with greased plastic wrap and allow to rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until almost doubled in size again.
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Heat oven to 400F.
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Once doubled, bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 mins until golden brown and the centre looks dry and not doughy. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for at least 10 mins. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
These look heavenly! Especially with a hearty stew or a simple tomato soup.
Thanks Cindy :)
I can easily make these rolls my whole meal! Seriously. Will be perfectly happy!
Lol! You know I could, too ;) Thanks!
What a creative recipe, I love the little ribbons of pesto running through these rolls!
Thanks Sue! Hard to beat fresh pesto with sundried tomatoes! Great combo :)
I don’t think I could stop at just one! A perfect recipe for these chilly soup-weather days!
Thanks Annie :)
I don’t think these would last long enough to make it to the freezer and I agree that warm out of the oven is best. I can practically smell ’em now! Divine!!!
Thanks Dawn!
It’s not just you – I dream of snuggling up with warm rolls all the time – haha. Especially with soup. I bet these have wonderful flavor Jennifer – and so pretty too!
Lol! Good :) Thanks so much!
I like the way you think, Jennifer! I’m always looking for a fluffy carb to pair with my soup, and these rolls are beyond! I love the pesto paired with the sun-dried tomatoes!! I could eat a dangerous amount of these beauties!! Cheers!
Thanks Cheyanne :) And stay safe!