2-ingredient flour and Greek yoghurt soft bread rolls recipe 

You can make soft, fluffy bread rolls without yeast or kneeling, and even bake them in a toaster oven (or a regular oven if you prefer) using baking powder and Greek yoghurt as the quick-rise agents. Super easy! 

I have been experimenting with some easy, basic baking. My main motivation is to consume as few preservatives and additives food manufacturers add to their products as possible. Because, who really wants to eat nasty chemicals? Just go and read the labels and you will see sometimes you are not eating real food at all. 

If you think about it, making bread is not rocket science. You don’t even need tens of ingredients or half of your day to make some decent, easy bread. If we look at the history of bread, the earliest proof of humans baking bread is from 14,000 years ago, at a site in Jordan. It turns out that some scientists uncovered two structures containing a large stone fireplace that contained the remains of breadcrumbs. 

When I read about this I remembered a press trip to Yerevan, Armenia, where we were taken to a place where they made traditionally baked bread in a kind of structure as described above. We could see how bread was made and, of course, eat the freshly baked bread afterwards as part of a traditional Armenian dinner. That trip remains one of the most interesting experiences in my career as a journalist. But that’s a story for another time. 

Back to the present, let’s bake some easy rolls today using some Greek yoghurt for the sake of science experimenting.

This is a 2-ingredient flour and Greek yoghurt version of soft bread rolls recipe (you get richer, nutritious rolls) 

• 2 cups self-rising flour (or, you can also use 2 cups all-purpose flour mixed with 3 teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt if you don’t have self-rising flour)

• 1 ¾ cups thick plain Greek yogurt

Instructions

1. Preheat your toaster oven to 180°C (approx 350°F) and line the toaster oven tray with a small piece of parchment paper.

2. Mix the dough: Combine the flour and Greek yoghurt in a mixing bowl. Stir gently just until a soft dough forms; do not overmix.

3. Shape the rolls: The fun part. 🙂 Divide the dough into 6 to 9 equal portions, or as many as you want with the dough you have. The sticky part: 😂 Roll them into smooth balls (or any shape you want if you feel creative) using lightly oiled or wet hands so the dough doesn't stick. 

4. Arrange nicely in the toaster oven: Place the lovely rolls on the parchment-lined tray, leaving a little space between each one. Optionally, brush the tops with a little milk or beaten egg for a golden finish. That’s not really necessary but some people may like to do that. It’s always up to you to give the recipe your personal touch for extra fun and applied creativity. 

5. Bake: Bake your creation in the toaster oven for 20 to 25 minutes (it depends on your oven, you might need to adjust the temperature because not all the ovens or toaster ovens are the same) until the tops are golden brown and cooked through. Check around 18 minutes to make sure the top isn't browning too fast if you are using a small toaster oven. You could also add some sesame seeds or other seeds on top of your bread rolls. I didn’t have any seeds so I made mine just plain. 

6. Cool: Let them cool for 5 minutes before eating. Or try one right away if you are impatient like myself. 😀 I highly recommend you wait a few minutes to let them cool first, though. 

Whilst we wait ...

Did you know that around 3000 BCE, the ancient Egyptians were the first to develop leavened bread using wild yeast and transformed the previously dense and flat loaves? Those ancient Egyptians were some smart cookies. 

Now the bread rolls are ready … (I can't upload my own photos because they must be less than 5.00MB! If you want to see my rolls, I'll post the photos on Substack.)

Congratulations! You have baked your own soft bread rolls, free from preservatives and other nasty chemicals they put in bread and everything else these days. In other words, anything you bake is healthier, it’s a source of fun, and will certainly give you some satisfaction at the end. It’s your creation. These rolls turned out quite delicious, in my opinion. I might improve them next time, now that I am an expert. 

Now go, bake some soft bread rolls, and enjoy with butter, strawberry jam, cheddar cheese (my favourite) or your preferred cheese, or any toppings you want. Remember: the most important thing is to have fun! Let me know if I have convinced you to start your own little baking project.