For Halloween, I like to create special recipes, especially to amaze my children and guests. I love recipes that feature spooky but funny characters, so they should be scary, but not too much. This year, I decided to prepare delicious buns filled with cooked ham and mozzarella, but you can get creative and fill them with the deli meats and cheeses you prefer, as long as the cheese is not too watery. You can serve them as a side dish or appetizer; they are a delight. You can find the sourdough recipe in the Suggestions at the end.
For this party, and not only, I suggest other savory recipes:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 45 Minutes
- Portions: 4 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Halloween
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups water
- 1.5 tbsps olive oil
- 0.4 oz fresh yeast
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 7 oz cooked ham
- 9 oz mozzarella
- as needed olive oil (to brush the dolls)
- 1 activated charcoal (tablet)
- 4 sugar eyes
Steps
To begin, prepare the sponge by putting a little warm water from the total amount, the yeast, a tablespoon of flour (also from the total), and a tablespoon of sugar in a glass. Stir and let it sit for a few minutes until a nice foam forms.
On a work surface, make a well with the flour, add the sponge, warm water, and oil, and start kneading. Now add the salt and knead until you get a smooth and homogeneous dough. Place it in a bowl, cover it with cling wrap, a towel, and let it rise for at least two hours in a dry place without drafts.
The dough should at least double in size.
Once risen, form the balls: 4 balls of 100g (for the body), 4 balls of 60g (for the head), 16 balls of 10g (for the legs and arms).
Let them rise again for about two hours, flouring them and covering them with cling wrap and a towel.
Fill the balls you will use for the body and head with chopped cooked ham and diced mozzarella. Instead of mozzarella, you can also use Emmental cheese.
Seal them very well to prevent the filling from coming out.
Form 4 dolls by joining the body with the head and arms, brush with a bit of olive oil.
Bake at 392°F for about 20-25 minutes.
Dissolve an activated charcoal tablet in a little water, and use a brush to draw the dolls’ eyes, mouths, and buttons.
Add the sugar eye and they are ready.
Suggestions, tips
You can fill the dolls with the deli meats and cheeses you prefer, as long as they are not too watery.
If you want to prepare them with sourdough, here is the recipe: 500g of flour, 200g of sourdough, 300ml of water, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of salt. I recommend kneading in the evening so that by morning it is well risen, then make the balls and let them rise for at least another 4-5 hours. With these amounts, you will get 5 dolls.
