Kim Bagley’s cheesy garlic and rosemary buns

Beloved South African food blogger and TikTok sensation Kim Bagley takes us along on her culinary journey as she shares some of her family’s favourite meals. Kim believes that food should be simple and comforting, but the flavours should be bold and memorable. Make these delicious cheesy garlic and rosemary buns from her best-selling cookbook Cooking with Kim Bagley.

Makes: 12 large buns
Preparation time: 2½ hours
Cooking time: 25 minutes

• 1 kg (4 cups) cake flour
• 10 g (1 sachet) instant yeast
• 5 ml (1 tsp) salt
• 45 ml (3 Tbs) sugar
• 375 ml (1½ cups) warm water
• 15 ml (1 Tbs) olive oil, plus extra for
• drizzling
• 30 ml (2 Tbs) finely chopped rosemary
• 200 g mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 125 g salted butter
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2.5 ml (½ tsp) chilli flakes

1. Sift the cake flour into a large bowl. Add the yeast, salt and sugar, and give it a stir. Make a little well in the centre and add the warm water. The water must not be too hot, or you will deactivate the yeast. It must not be too cold, or you won’t activate the yeast enough.

2. Add the olive oil and 15 ml (1 Tbs) chopped rosemary. Mix until you have a shaggy dough. Turn out onto an oiled countertop. Oil your hands and knead for 5 to 6 minutes.

3. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, drizzle a little oil over it and spread it evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm area for 2 hours to rise.

4. Punch the dough down and divide into 12 equal portions. Spread out a portion of dough and add some mozzarella. Shape into a ball. Pinch the balls tightly together
as you don’t want the cheese to ooze out while baking.

5. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and add the balls, leaving a little space between them for rising. Cover with a tea towel and allow to stand
for 20 minutes or until the spaces between the balls have closed.

6. Brush with egg wash and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Melt the butter in a bowl and add the garlic, remaining rosemary and the chilli flakes. Stir, and brush over the buns once you remove them from the oven. Serve immediately while
hot, to enjoy the oozy cheese.