Bolillos, Mexican crusty white rolls

Name: Bolillos, Mexican crusty white rolls
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 500g strong white bread flour; 2 tsp fine salt; 1 tsp caster sugar; 7g fast action dried yeast; 320ml warm water, lukewarm; 1 tbsp olive oil; 200ml boiling water, for the steam tray

Crackly, golden rolls with a soft, airy middle, perfect for tortas, molletes or just butter.

Time3 hr
LevelMedium
Costabout £0.07 a head
Oven230°C (210°C fan)

Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.

8 rolls

Ingredients

Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.

500 gstrong white bread flour
2 tspfine salt
1 tspcaster sugar
7 gfast action dried yeast
320 mlwarm waterlukewarm
1 tbspolive oil
200 mlboiling waterfor the steam tray

Method

1
Mix the flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Add the warm water and olive oil and stir to a rough dough.
2
Knead on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Put in an oiled bowl, cover and leave for 1 hour, until doubled.
60 min
3
Divide into 8 pieces and flatten each into an oval. Fold the top third down, then the bottom third up, and pinch the seam closed. Roll gently and taper both ends to make a football shape.
4
Place seam side down on a floured tray, cover with a tea towel and leave for 45 minutes until puffy.
45 min
5
Heat the oven to 230°C (210°C fan) with an empty roasting tin on the bottom shelf. Slash each roll lengthways with a sharp knife.
6
Slide the tray in and carefully pour the boiling water into the hot tin to make steam. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until deep golden with a crisp crust. Cool on a rack.
21 min

Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.