Easy Dough Balls

The easiest recipe for homemade dough balls

Homemade dough balls are always a favourite side dish in my house. My kids LOVE them, in the holiday season my three year old calls them snowballs - how cute! If you’re a little shy in the kitchen and looking for a good place to start, I highly recommend this recipe. It also works well for making a simple loaf of bread, of course, with slightly different instructions once the dough has been kneaded.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups lukewarm water

• 4 tsp dried yeast

• 4 tsp salt

• 2 cups flour (plus extra for kneading)

• ½ cup olive oil

Method

1. In a large bowl, combine the lukewarm water and dried yeast. Stir gently and leave for 5-10 minutes, until the mixture becomes slightly foamy.

2. Add the olive oil and salt to the bowl and mix well.

3. Gradually add the flour, stirring with a spoon or your hands until a soft dough forms.

4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 8-10 minutes, adding more flour as needed, until the dough is smooth and elastic.

5. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean tea towel, and leave in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

6. Once risen, punch the dough down gently and divide it into small, even pieces. Roll each piece into a ball.

7. Place the dough balls on a lined baking tray, cover, and allow them to rest for another 15-20 minutes.

8. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (180°C fan) for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

9. Serve warm, plain or brushed with a little extra olive oil.

My favourite dishes to pair with my home made dough balls are pasta, soup and this might sound a little crazy but with a little butter and scrambled eggs!