These amazing savory rolls with olives and parsley gremolata are fantastic for dipping in soup or a little olive oil.
Savory Rolls with Olives & Parsley Gremolata
There are times when I am writing the story portion of my posts that I find it impossible to focus on the task at hand. This is one of those times. Of course, there will be a recipe. Savory Rolls with Olives and Parsley Gremolata, to be exact. Rolls that melt in your mouth and are rich with the briny flavor of olives and the fresh flavor of a classic parsley and lemon zest puree. However, I am having difficulties giving these rolls their due because of something that's on my mind.
Stepping up onto the soapbox.
A couple of weeks ago, you may or may not have heard that the Vancouver Canucks would be facing off against the Boston Bruins in the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Having grown up in Vancouver as an avid hockey fan, that was a pretty big deal. The Canucks played their way to the finals two times in the past, the last time being in 1994, and have never won the cup. Yeah, we wanted it...and bad. I will spare you the blow-by-blow, but it is safe to say that the Canucks glimmer was snuffed out by game 7. Lord Stanley's cup went to Boston...on our home ice.
Now, of course I can get past this. After all, it is just a hockey game - though try telling that to two boys, 9 and 7-years old, decked out in their Canucks jerseys and hats, tears streaming down their faces as their favorite team stumbles and can't get up in the most important game of the season. Yeah, that kinda sucked.
It was what happened after the game ended that I'm having difficulties swallowing...that I am struggling to explain to my boys. Thousands of people had piled into downtown Vancouver to watch their Canucks battle for the cup on several enormous screens placed in various locations. Most of these people were there to have a good time, but left with the expected feelings of disappointment.
And then there were the others. The ones who went out into the city - my city - and looted stores, smashed car windows and lit police cars on fire.
It's not just that they cost the city and storeowners millions of dollars. It's not just that they left a black mark on Vancouver's reputation as a desirable travel destination. It's not just that they were complete idiots who would have rioted whether Vancouver won the cup or not. What bothers me the most is the flurry of so-called apologies that have come in the wake of the riots, and the complete lack of personal responsibility.
Social media - Twitter, Facebook - is playing a significant role in bringing the rioters to justice. If you want to light a police car on fire, it might be wise to take a look around to see who is filming your antics with their smartphone. Knowing that they would be caught, many of the rioters are coming forward to try to clear their names. The apologies are coming in the form of "I'm sorry I did, it, but that's not really like me at all." Really? Did you come to that realization after you smashed the fifth window or when your buddy told you he saw you on YouTube and you better hurry and 'fess up?
Are these the same people that later sue McDonald's because they spilled their coffee and didn't realize it would be hot? Or are they the ones that show up to court to face charges with expletives painted on their nails, which they freely show the judge during the hearing? My God, I need a cocktail just thinking about it.
So, as I am explaining the photos of the riots to my children, I will be sure to throw in a motherly speech about personal responsibility, about saying you're sorry and meaning it, about treating each other with compassion and respect. I know that no one is perfect and that we all made mistakes (I made at least twenty myself yesterday), but if we could all just learn to say, "I"m sorry" and then take steps to put things right, the world would be a much gentler place to live.
Climbing down from the soapbox.
Yeah, yeah - I know. This is a cooking blog and you just came here for a recipe and a few photos. Well, I don't throw a rant at you very often - in fact, I think this might be the first time - and I figured I was due. I promise that regular programming will resume with the next post.
The savory rolls recipe:
In a medium bowl, stir together yeast, water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon sugar. Let rest for 10 minutes to allow yeast to bloom (it will bubble on the surface).
In a large bowl, stir together flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add butter and, using fingers, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
Stir in the egg, egg yolk and yeast mixture until combined. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth, 5 to 10 minutes. The dough is rather sticky, so you may need to add extra flour along the way.
Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free location until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, place the parsley, lemon zest, garlic and olive oil in a food processor and blend until combined. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in olives.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, form into a rectangle and roll to form an 18- by 9-inch rectangle. Spoon the parsley mixture down the center of the rectangle and spread until it almost reaches the edges.
Starting from one long edge, roll the dough until it forms a long tube. Cut the roll into pieces that are ¾ to 1 inch wide.
Lay the pieces on the prepared baking pans and brush lightly with olive oil.
Bake until the rolls are golden brown, rotating the pans halfway through baking, about 20 minutes. Let the rolls cool. Serve.
Other savory roll recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Cream Biscuits with Prosciutto & Parmesan Cheese
The Pioneer Woman's Buttered Rosemary Rolls
Brown Eyed Baker's Soft Cheese & Pepperoni Bread
The Purple Foodie's Pesto Bread Rolls
Printable Recipe
Savory Rolls with Olives & Parsley Gremolata
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- ½ cup warm water (105 - 115 degrees F)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar divided
- 1 ¾ cups + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
Parsley Gremolata:
- 1 cup (packed) roughly chopped flat leaf parsley
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 ounces kalamata olives pitted & roughly chopped
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together yeast, water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon sugar. Let rest for 10 minutes to allow yeast to bloom (it will bubble on the surface).
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add butter and, using fingers, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
- Stir in the egg, egg yolk and yeast mixture until combined.
- Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth, 5 to 10 minutes. The dough is rather sticky, so you may need to add extra flour along the way.
- Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free location until it doubles in size, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, place the parsley, lemon zest, garlic and olive oil in a food processor and blend until combined. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in olives.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, form into a rectangle and roll to form an 18- by 9-inch rectangle. Spoon the parsley mixture down the center of the rectangle and spread until it almost reaches the edges. Starting from one long edge, roll the dough until it forms a long tube. Cut the roll into pieces that are ¾ to 1 inch wide. Lay the pieces on the prepared baking pans and brush lightly with olive oil.
- Bake until the rolls are golden brown, rotating the pans halfway through baking, about 20 minutes. Let the rolls cool. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Emily @Cleanliness
Those are some cute little tykes! With your beautiful sense, you can step onto the soapbox any day of the week. That kind of behavior is sickening.
The gremolata is perfect!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Emily. Believe me, I was shaking my head as I was watching the coverage.
Pretend Chef
Agreed. As a mama now I am realizing how every move I make influences my Itty Bitty as well as outside influences. Sigh. I find every day I have to explain why we don't or do something. It's hard with him being so young and naive. Another big sigh. These rolls look delicious. The olives make me giddy. Yummy!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you. The best we can do is to start teaching them well from the beginning. It sounds as though you are already doing a good job of that.
KelleBelle
We Vancouverites and Greater Vancouverites were devastated by the planned and deliberate actions of those who were determined to cause destruction downtown that night, and what broke my heart was watching those who did not plan to get involved allow themselves to discard their moral compasses and join in on the madness and chaos. My city was burning, people trying to get out were scared and confused, and the brave few who tried to stop the criminal and destructive activity were attacked by mobs who were cheered by onlookers.
But out of all of this, something incredible happened; the immediate rallying of the citizens of Vancouver and Greater Vancouver (e.g. we out in the 'Burbs and across the Fraser River) to go down and help the City staff and shopkeepers to clean up and do what they could to make things right. There is also now a "VANLOVER" campaign to support the smaller businesses damaged and looted in the chaos that may not be as well insured as larger chain stores are.
Sadly it is out of events such as these that we realize our full strength both as individuals and as a community. Vancouver has weathered this storm, and if more bloggers and media sources focus on how we have banded together to make Vancouver even BETTER than we were before, then we will have shown the world again what it is to be Canadians.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you very much for writing to offer this perspective. It is so good to hear what Vancouverites are doing to help the shopkeepers and to put things right. Indeed, that makes me very proud to be a Canadian.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
You're entitled to a little soapbox every now and then. We were all sad to watch the post-game scene in Vancouver. And for those of us who happen to live in Boston but are Canadiens fans, the loss was just as tough to take.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much, Lydia.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
these look amazing! i think i know what i'm taking to the next party (which is July 4th!)
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Heather. I hope you enjoy the rolls.
Belinda @zomppa
Ditto. It is so sad that some folks use any excuse to eschew personal responsibility, or forget that they are human beings. Your boys ARE adorable. Still love Vancouver, but have to say, as an original Bostonian...=)
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Belinda. Congratulations to your Bruins.
claudia lamascolo/aka pegasuslegend
These would be a huge hit here! I love how easy they are too 🙂 Those boys have sure grown into two handsome young men! Wow how times flys... we love hockey here and know what dissappointment feels like (sorry) but we areToronto Maple Leaf fans (yes we know not too good a choice last year for sure) Oh well would love to see the boys play again and win, my two sons use to play in NY when we lived there same age as your two sons look! ! Looks like they have a very close relationship like my two sons! I love to see that!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
A Leafs fan, huh? Well, I suppose we can still be friends. 😉 Just teasing, Claudia.
Blog is the New Black
These look lovely! Great rolls!
Maris(In Good Taste)
So well said. I think it goes back to how a few rotten apples.... On a happier note the boys look so adorable all decked out!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I agree, Maris. It's just too bad when it reflects on the whole city.
Lora
Extremely well said. I attended the world cup celebrations in Munich back in 2006 and was amazed at how well behaved and orderly everything went even though there were people gathered from all over the world. My experience made me even more sad and disgusted to see what happened in Vancouver.
Your boys are adorable.Oh and Lovely rolls btw!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Lora. It seems there were a group of people bent on destruction that ruined it for everyone. Frustrating.