¼cupshredded Grana Padano cheese or parmesan cheese
1teaspoonsalt
1teaspoondried thyme
½teaspoondried basil
½teaspoondried oregano
½teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoononion powder
2 ½ - 2 ¾cupsall-purpose flour
Instructions
Stir 1 teaspoon of sugar and yeast into the ½ cup of warm water and let sit for 10 minutes until the mixture is frothy and bubbly. In another bowl, stir together the shredded cheese, salt, remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar, thyme, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Place the ¾ cup of warm water and melted butter in a large bowl. Add 2 cups of flour and the cheese/herb mixture and stir. Add the yeast mixture once it's frothy and continue stirring while adding another ½ cup of flour.
Turn the mixture onto a lightly floured counter and knead for 5 minutes or until the dough is soft, smooth and no longer sticking to your hands. Dust the counter with a small amount of flour when you notice the dough sticking to your hands but try not to add too much extra flour (too much flour will make the dough tough). Form the dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a dry towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour. The dough should double in size.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. After the dough has risen, punch it down into the bowl and knead a few times to get the air bubbles out. Cut the dough in half and then cut each half into 8 equal pieces - 16 pieces in total. Form each piece into a bun and place on the prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and a dry towel and let rise in a warm place again for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350℉ a few minutes before the buns finish rising.
After the buns have risen, remove the towel and the plastic wrap and bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving with butter. Enjoy!
Notes
For best freshness, store rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month and warm in a 350℉ oven for 10-15 minutes before serving.