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.
KalynsKitchen
I hadn't heard about the rioting, but how sad. Some people are just completely lacking in judgement. I often ponder what has brought this out in people more and more in the last ten years of so. But that's a whole different topic.
Great recipe, sounds just fantastic. I love gremolata, but haven't ever used it like this.
Deborah
I think this is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach your kids. It's a virtue that is definitely missing from a lot of the world today!!
These rolls look absolutely amazing. AMAZING.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I completely agree, Deborah. Thanks for commenting.
Carolyn
Your preaching to the choir for me, Dara, given that I went to UBC, love Vancouver but this is so awful. What is it about a hockey game that can get people THAT upset? Go punch a wall in your own house, but don't deface public property.
Great rolls, BTW! But I am standing on that soapbox with you.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I hear your, Carolyn. It seems that the people doing the rioting were not really hockey fans, but rather a bunch of people looking to make trouble. It definitely puts a damper on things for the rest of us.
Brandie
Dara, I thought about you as I was watching that game. I know what a fan you are and it being your hometown as well. I thought your soapbox was well-deserved! I never thought Canadians had a hooligan streak in them at all! At least your using it as a tool to teach your boys about responsibility. And my heart was broken to hear they were so upset by their team losing. I'm sure Mom made it all better though!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much, Brandie. I think that anytime you have a big city, you're bound to have a collection of people looking to cause trouble. My boys have rebounded from the loss, as kids do, and are looking forward to next season.
Pam
They look pretty and delicious!
Sanjeeta kk
The boys are adorable! And the rolls..so tempting. Love the olives and the parsley in it. Will bake it this weekend.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Sanjeeta. I hope you get a chance to try them.
Tyla
We were horrified as well Dara...it was sad. I was downtown this past weekend though and did see evidence of the coming together that happened in the wake of the riots. Still sad though 🙁
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much for commenting, Tyla. I'm glad to hear that people are pulling together.
Celeste Jenkins
I was appalled at the looting and everything that was going on and I completely understand and agree with where you're coming from. Your rolls sound yummy, especially with the addition of the olives! 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Celeste.
VADEPAN
I've just discovered your site, and it's so great!!!!!! These rolls look delicious, I'm adding this recipe to my must try pile!!!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much. I hope you'll be back.
bellini
Being a British Columbian I was at first embarrassed for our province that this should happen in our city. Embarrassment turned to pride in how the city rallied together and cleaned up the mess and destruction caused by this "feeding frenzy". I am sure that some of the apologies are sincere with young people being caught up and following the crowd (not saying it is right), but some are shamefaced that they were caught on video with their faces splashed all over the media and Facebook and are trying to cover their tracks and explain away their deplorable actions.
My biggest disappointment is from followers in the East who were proud to call themselves Canadians and rallied together during the Vancouver Olympics to celebrate our great nation, who now have shunned Vancouver and disembodied themselves from the West once again. I would love it if we all rallied together and showed our support as hockey fans and Canadians and retained the pride we should all feel. Now I am off my soapbox too:D
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much for your comment. It is so good to hear that the people of Vancouver are rallying together to put things right.