I love bread. The smell of freshly baked bread is like a drug to me.The smells lures me into each and every bakery I pass by. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t buy bread. I do. Most of the time I’m buying the smallest one I can find if I’m intrigued by the ingredients. I just want a bite, so I know how it tastes in order to make it at home.
I don’t know about your area, but here, the smallest bread they sell it’s still pretty big but while I was in Romania on my vacation I was in bread paradise. There they sells small rolls and almost each day I’d go and pick a couple different combos. Seeds, no seeds, multigrain, cereals, rye, pumpkin, cheese – so many to choose from. Of course I had a bite of each and every one of them. I can’t say which one was my favorite, all had that little something that makes you come back for more.
My biggest challenge was to recreate rolls that use only whole wheat. If you’ve been baking with whole wheat before you know the breads are a little heavier and dense compared with those using all-purpose/bread flour.
I knew there has to be a secret ingredient that made the whole wheat bread fluffy, just didn’t know what that might be.
Now, after a couple of weeks of trial and error I’m happy to announce I’ve conquered the whole wheat bread! The secret my friends is called commercial dough enhancer!
I was a little skeptic at first. Didn’t know what to expect. Now, that I’ve used it I think it’s a good product to have around. It makes your dough more elastic giving the bread a better volume, keeps it soft longer and it doesn’t make lots of crumbs when slicing.
They say you can use the dough enhancer in white breads and even cakes, brownies or muffins. I haven’t tried that yet, so I can’t tell if it’s true or not.
To make these, you have to measure your seeds first. I used quinoa (yellow, red and black), amaranth, flax seeds, chia seeds, poppy seeds and sesame seeds
In a sauce pan add the 3 types of quinoa, the amaranth seeds and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat until the water is absorbed.
Remove from the heat and mix in the flax seeds, chia seeds, poppy seeds and sesame seeds. Let it cool completely.
Once cooled start making the dough. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water and wait until it bubbles. Add to the yeast mixture the cooled seeds, olive oil, agave nectar, salt and dough enhancer. Slowly mix in the whole wheat flour.
Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic and it comes clean from the sides of your stand up mixer.
Place it into a greased bowl and let it rest, covered, for about an hour. It should double in volume.
Roll the risen dough into a rectangle and place it on a baking sheet. Cut it into smaller rectangles.
Let it rest again for about 30 minutes while you let your over get hot.
Bake for 30-35 minutes.
Multiseed pillows
*adapted from Naturally Ella
Ingredients
1/4 cup yellow quinoa
1/4 cup red quinoa
1/4 cup black quinoa
1/4 cup amaranth
2 tbsp each flax seeds, chia seeds, poppy seeds, sesame seeds
1 tsp salt
2 cups water
2 tsp dry yeast
1 cup water
1/2 c olive oil
2 tbsp. agave nectar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dough enhancer (for the list of ingredients and nutritional information please click here)
4 c whole wheat flour
Directions
Measure the seeds.
In a sauce pan add the quinoa seeds (can be used only one color if you don’t have 3), amaranth seeds, 1 tsp salt and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and let it simmer until all the water is absorbed. Stir in the rest of the seeds (Flax seeds, chia seeds, poppy seeds and sesame seeds) and let it cool completely.
In your stand up mixer bowl add 1 cup lukewarm water and 2 tsp dry yeast. Stir and let the yeast dissolve. Shortly couple of bubbles will appear. Now add the seeds mixture, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 tbsp agave nectar, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp dough enhancer. With the dough hook on start mixing slowly adding the whole wheat flour. Knead until the dough is elastic and comes clean from the sides of the bowl.
Take the dough out and place it into an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 1 hour. It should double in volume.
Take the dough out and roll it into a rectangle on a baking sheet. Cut it into small rectangles and let it rest again for about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile heat the oven to 375F.
Bake the pillows for 30-35 minutes. Enjoy!
Sending you lots of love,
Roxana
*I was given a container of just dough enhancer to review, the opinions written in this post are all mine.
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
The bread looks delicious! Where do you get the dough enhancer? I love making whole wheat bread but I'm the only one who eats it because it is too dense. Great post!
I am all too familiar with overly dense whole wheat bread, so the dough enhancer is something I am glad you introduced here.
Also, your rolls looks so rustic and I can imagine how tasty with all those seeds in there! Sometimes I want more than just plain bread and this is just the ticket. Thanks for posting this and have a great day!
It looks AMAZING! I'm curious about the dough enhancer, does it say on the package what it is made of? I've heard that adding gluten to the 100% whole wheat bread makes it softer too, but I've never tried.
These look delicious! I love seeds in my bread, unfortunately my wife abhors them. My mother in law and I always try to sneak at least a little bit in, though. I've never seen quinoa in bread, sounds intriguing!
Oh how cute and perfect for fall. I love all the grains. they really do look like little pillows!
These look amazing. I am going to have to print this out and try it. Conquering bread is my goal for the winter. It was my goal last year too but the bread won.
I love all the different grains and seeds you used in this. Yum!
Very interesting. I'll have to mention the enhancer to my wife, since she does the majority of the baking.
I love seeded bread bread, and this looks like the bonanza of seeded bread!
I am completely fascinated by your pillows!! I love the name (who can resist pillowy bites) and I love love love the grains and the layers in each bite. You did such a wonderful job!!
These. Make. Me. Hungry! I've always adored whole wheat and multigrain/seed rolls!
Gosh! What a beautiful dough and I'm tickled of what you've named them…"pillows" so appropriately titled! I'm with you about loving bread and the smell of homemade bread baking. I will look into that commercial dough enhancer…
WOW! This bread is just gorgeous. I wish I could conquer a bread, but my attempts are always big let-downs. Good for you to master this one!
looks delicious…love the name !
Oh my goodness, these look incredible! You had me at quinoa!
I LOVE how you used quinoa and amaranth in these bread!!! whoohoo for super foods. and they do look like pillows
. i would eat these in a heart beat! now i just have to find a way to make it gluten free! 
This bread sounds healthy and earthy. I think I want some of these pillows so that I can sleep good tonight!
These pillows looks great with all the colors of the seed ^^
These look amazing and I love the name!
These are GREAT! I understand about wanting to buy just a bit of bread…then you get fresh all the time! Instead of using commercial dough enhancer in my wheat bread, I use gluten, vinegar, milk powder and potato flakes!
Hi Roxana! I am loving all of the seeded goodness in these
! I have yet to try dough enhancer but you have me curious about it now!
What a nice healthy recipe – love how light these look.
I love breads as well- seeded ones are my favorites. I haven't tried dough enhancer, but often have wished for a way to make my wheat breads better. Is it something you have to order online or can you get it locally? Maybe Wegmans? These pillows look wonderful.
Wow, these are packed with every great seed I have in my pantry. What a great recipe!
These multiseed pillows look really tasty! I also like the rustic look of these "pillows".
This is my absolute favorite kind of bread…full of delicious goodies!!! It looks fabulous…and thanks for finding the secret ingredient for the rest of us. I'll look for the commercial dough enhancer as I'd love to bake your wonderful bread!
PS…laughing that your hubby buys grocery store cakes! Mine comes home with boxes of Sara Lee coffee cakes or ho hos ;/
You are so dedicated Roxana – I commend your tenacity! I am not sure if we get all the different types of quinoa her, I will definitely look out for it as well as the commercial dough enhancer.
Mandy
I don't think I have ever munched on anything like these multiseed pillows before but I want to. They look delicious and different. And that dough enhancer stuffs, let me know how that works out. Im super curious about it in white breads and cake batters.
this is really healthy…multiseed pillows …very aptly named :p love the color of the bread . Thanks for sharing the recipe and as usual your clicks are beautiful.
Fantastic. This is really healthy.
You did it again…what a great recipe, and I can only imagine the aroma in your kitchen once it was baked…love your photos of course too:) Awesome post…
Those pillows look fabulous. Love multiseeds.
I just love the name
I have never heard of the dough enhancer before…very cool! And I so love all of these wonderful seeds, fantastic recipe!
They do look like little pillows. They sound delicious and super healthy. Glad you found what you were looking for.
Commercial dough enhancer? were new to me and our markets here. But these pillows look absolutely fab. Can I have some pillows please.
Hosting an event which I am calling Back to our Roots Also hosting for Nov’11 Veggie Food for the Month_Raw Banana. Please do send me your entries.
This bread looks amazing! Love the quinoa in there
.
Dough enhancer, I have to look into this. Thanks for your sweet comment, I'm okay, but have a yucky cold now. These rolls could speed the healing process though. Hope you are having a great week.
-Gina-
CONGRATS on the Top 9 with these delicious pillows!!! xo
wow i love these!
Roxana, your breads and sweets always look awesome. I have been wishing for a quiet day in the kitchen so I can make some bread but haven't found the time. After seeing your multiseed pillows, the craving is even stronger. I know I'd love this and so would my husband!
Thank you for the beckoning "pillows"!..Would you have a recipe for the dough enhancer? I cannot seem to locate it here in France….Thank so much for the concise, beautifully photographed directions and images…
Commercial dough enhancer, hmmm – I'll have to check it out! The addition of seeds to bread or muffins is always a winner! So no wonder these little seeded pillows are in today's Top 9, congrats!
Your pillows look so colourful, soft and I am sure they taste great. I also am addicted to the smell of bakeries and to the good bread in general. I have heard about dough enhancer, but have always thought only industrial bread contained it and would have never thought it might give excellent results in home baking. Thanks for sharing the recipe and this original tip.
I am soooooo making that this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
Oh wow, these look great Roxana! I love breads that are chock full of little goodies like this is. Definitely have to try this!
I love grainy, seedy foods… this looks fabulous! Healthy too!
I'm so intrigued by this! I love seeds in my bread!
I don't have much experience with amaranth seeds but I've been so interested in trying to incorporate them more into my cooking.
This is goregous!! I love the variety of seeds and the texture looks amazing!! thank you for sharing!
ps, I am going to resubscribe for your feed..I haven't gotten one post, hmm
This is absolutely gorgeous. I bet it tastes and smells incredible. Congrats on top 9!
These look amazing. I love that they are so light even though they're packed with seeds! Lovely!
I'm happy to be following you here now!
And obviously I'm stumbling this just like everyone else has been!
First the recipe name got my attention, pillow? It's a cute name – it's because of the shape right? Your dedication of trying to make the best bread make this bread so successful Roxana! You are inspiring! You mentioned to me before that you started baking not a long ago, and look, now you're one of expert in making bread and everyone is coming here to get great recipes! I am crazy about bread too, so hope to become like you one day! Meanwhile I totally wish we have 5 good bakeries in 5 mins drive. I need to drive at least 15 mins for one!! I bet Romania has great bakeries everywhere…
Oh I just love this combination of seeds you have put together here – especially the quinoa! I would have never thought of that myself. And these tiny little 'pillows' are just too cute! I bet I could eat a few at a time with some butter.
I'm known as a bread addict in my circle…and yet have not ventured far enough to make some of my own.
Roxana…these are perfect for me…love the quinoa aspect to the recipe.
Thanks for sharing your tutorial…much appreciated ;o)
Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
Claudia
I'm with you, the smell of fresh bread drives me crazy! They need to bottle it. I need to try this "enhancer" you mentioned. I wonder where i can find it here in the UK.
*kisses* HH
I love the smell of fresh bread! I have never used dough enhancer, but it sounds interesting. Your pillows look amazing!
This looks so delicious
!! Must try it…. Really nice!
I know what you mean about whole wheat flour making bread very dense. Must try the dough enhancer, sounds like a good product to keep on hand. These little pillows look fantastic, earthy, just the way I like my bread!
I also love using quinoa seeds in breads and muffins
LOVE the seeds!!! These look delicious.
you're such a bread wonder and i only feel more and more intimidated with bread baking every time i visit you! this recipe is a keeper…like a legacy! dough enhancer? dont even think we'll get it here lol.
ty for this fab recipe!
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