Tomato Basil Bread is soft and delicious, steamed and pan-fried with a crunchy exterior and flavorful filling. The bread dough is prepared using fresh tomatoes and stuffed with fresh basil leaves, cream cheese, and spring onions (scallions). You will only be craving for more after your first bite!!
How to serve tomato basil bread?
Tomato basil bread can be served as an appetizer or as a side with a bowl of soup or as an entrée for lunch or dinner. Because they have crispy sides they are easy to manage, not delicate, and thus would make a perfect portable snack or meal for your potluck, picnic, or tailgating events. This bread is also great for lunch boxes.
Call it any way you want - bread, buns, bread rolls, or pinwheels 🙂 This version of tomato basil bread is no-bake, steamed, and then pan-fried. If you are looking for bread that can be made without an oven or for bread using a steamer or instant pot then you should definitely check this out. For steaming these buns, you can just use a wok or pan with a stainless plate with holes that allow steam to pass.
One of the simplest and tastiest bread recipes that I have tried so far.
The dough is not, but the method for making this bread is similar to Shanghai Sheng Jian Bao or Bao Buns that are steamed and pan-fried.
If you are following my blog you will definitely know how I love preparing bread and flatbreads. Some time back we used to consistently post one bread recipe every week and I must proudly say some of them are popular bread recipes on this blog with more than a million views. Some of my reader's favorite bread recipes include
- Vienna Bread
- Zopf
- Pita Bread
- Thai roti bread
- Rumali Roti
- Tava Naan
- Amritsari kulcha
- Garlic Butter Naan
- Corn Flour Bread
- Oats Chapati
- Garlic Cheese Naan
- Dinner rolls
Due to personal commitments, I was unable to post bread recipes for a long time now. I have decided to start my old schedule back again, and I began last week with the trending WOOL ROLL BREAD - EGGLESS & VEGAN VERSION.
Coming back to Tomato Basil Bread...
Why should I make this Tomato Basil Bread or Steamed Pan Fried Buns?
- Delicious and flavorful with crispy sides
- Vegan and vegetarian
- Easily portable
- Filling is customizable
- You can make this even without an oven, in a bamboo steamer or stainless steel steamer, or even in an instant pot.
Basically, there are 3 parts to make this delicious bread or bun.
- Preparing the dough
- Steaming the buns or bread
- Pan-frying the buns
Today I have made vegan/vegetarian and eggless version of steamed buns where the dough is flavored with fresh tomatoes and filled with cream cheese, basil leaves, and green onions (scallions). The filling or stuffing options are endless. You can use your favorite meat (pork, chicken), or for more vegetarian or vegan options use tofu, paneer, potatoes, mushrooms, and cheese.
Ingredients for Tomato Basil Bread | Steamed and Pan-Fried Buns
3 medium-sized tomatoes
2 teaspoon Active dry or Instant yeast
1 ½ teaspoon Sugar
2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Salt
For the bread filling or stuffing
¼ cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves, chopped
200g of Cream cheese, softened (use vegan cream cheese for vegan version)
¼ cup of tightly packed Spring onions or Scallions or Green onions, chopped
Oil for pan-frying the bread (coconut oil, olive oil, or any cooking oil of your choice)
How to make Tomato Basil Bread
Prepare the dough for tomato basil bread
- Roughly chop the tomatoes, add them to the blender and blend it to smooth puree or paste.
- Transfer this to a bowl, add sugar, and mix. Now add yeast and mix. Let this sit for 10 minutes for the yeast to activate.
- Now add salt, flour in parts and mix until the dough comes together and forms a soft and slightly tacky dough. Knead it for 3 to 5 minutes if desired.
- Place this in a greased bowl, cover and let it sit for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Prepare the filling or stuffing for the bread
- In a bowl, add cream cheese, basil leaves, spring onions, and mix. Keep this aside.
Shape them into small bread or buns
- Transfer the dough to a floured working surface and sprinkle some flour on top of the dough.
- Using a rolling pin, roll it to a rectangle of ⅛ to ¼ inch thickness. Make sure the dough is smooth and evenly thick.
- Add dollops of filling and evenly spread it all over the dough.
- Starting at the longer side, roll this dough to form a log. (Check video for more details)
- Cut the ends if desired. Make 8 equal bread or buns. Transfer this to a parchment-lined tray.
- Cover this and let it sit for another 20 to 30 minutes.
Steaming the bread on the stovetop
- Heat a large steamer on medium-high heat.
- You can grease the steamer plate with oil or line it with parchment paper.
- Place the bread and steam it for 12 minutes on medium-high heat.
- Switch off the flame. Let this sit for 5 minutes.
Pan-frying the bread
- Heat 1 tablespoon to 2 tablespoon of oil in a pan or wok on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the steamed bread (4 at time or all 8) depending on the size of the pan.
- Once bread starts becoming golden brown at the bottom, flip and cook on the other side till it becomes golden in color.
Tomato Basil bread is ready. Serve hot with chili sauce or soy sauce or simply tomato ketchup and enjoy.
How to make Tomato Basil Bread in Instant Pot | Steamed and Pan-Fried Buns in Instant Pot
Instant pot proofing :
Once the dough is formed, place the parchment paper in the inner pot of the Instant pot and cover the pot with the glass lid. Select YOGURT mode and proof the dough for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Steam Tomato Basil Bread in Instant pot :
Once the dough has risen, follow the same steps given above to form a log and cut them into 8 equal bread roll pieces. Pour 2 to 3 cups of water in the steel insert of your instant pot (IP). Place trivet or ring. Use saute mode, let water get heated up, and start boiling.
Place the cut bread on a steamer pan, plate or steamer, or bamboo basket lined with parchment paper on the trivet and close the instant pot lid.
Keep the pressure valve venting and not sealing. The timer does not work on venting mode and instant pot will not beep here, so set an external timer. Choose STEAM mode and steam for 5 to 6 minutes.
After the cooking time is done, let this sit for another 2 to 3 minutes before removing it from the IP.
Frying the Tomato Basil Bread on Instant Pot
Turn on the saute mode of your instant pot and heat 2 tablespoon of oil. Place the steamed bread in two batches. Once bread starts becoming golden brown at the bottom, flip and cook on the other side till it becomes golden in color.
Can I just steam the bread or buns?
Definitely yes. You can just steam the buns/rolls and serve them with chili sauce or tomato ketchup. It will be similar to potstickers or dim sum or momos.
Can I make the dough ahead and store it?
Once you have formed a log and cut them into 8 equal pieces, just lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until hardened. Now remove and store it in a zip lock bag in the freezer.
To cook the bread, simply follow the instructions given under steaming. You don't have to thaw. Just steam with a little extra water for few more minutes than prescribed.
Check out the video!!!
Detailed recipe for Tomato Basil Bread - Steamed and Pan-Fried Buns - Stovetop and Instant Pot
Recipe card
Tomato Basil Bread | Steamed And Pan Fried Buns
Ingredients
For the dough
- 3 medium Tomatoes
- 2 teaspoon Active dry yeast or Instant yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoon Sugar
- 2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups All purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
For the filling
- ¼ cup Basil Leaves , fresh, tightly packed and chopped
- 200 g Cream cheese , softened
- ¼ cup Spring Onions or scallions or green onions, chopped and tightly packed
Other Ingredient
- 2 to 3 tablespoon Oil for pan frying the bread (coconut oil, olive oil, or any cooking oil of your choice)
Instructions
Prepare The Dough For Tomato Basil Bread
- Roughly chop the tomatoes, add them to the blender and blend it to smooth puree or paste.3 medium Tomatoes
- Transfer this to a bowl, add sugar, and mix. Now add yeast and mix. Let this sit for 10 minutes for the yeast to activate.1 ½ teaspoon Sugar, 2 teaspoon Active dry yeast
- Now add salt, flour in parts and mix until the dough comes together and forms a soft and slightly tacky dough. Knead it for 3 to 5 minutes if desired.1 teaspoon Salt, 2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups All purpose flour
- Place this in a greased bowl, cover, and let it sit for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Prepare The Filling Or Stuffing For The Bread
- In a bowl, add cream cheese, basil leaves, spring onions, and mix. Keep this aside.¼ cup Basil Leaves, 200 g Cream cheese, ¼ cup Spring Onions
Shape Them Into Small Bread Rolls Or Buns
- Transfer the dough to a floured working surface and sprinkle some flour on top of the dough.
- Using a rolling pin, roll it to a rectangle of ⅛ to ¼ inch thickness. Make sure the dough is smooth and evenly thick.
- Add dollops of filling (prepared above) and evenly spread it all over the dough.
- Starting at the longer side, roll this dough to form a log. (Check tomato basil bread video for more details). Cut the ends if desired. Make 8 equal bread rolls or buns. Transfer this to a parchment-lined tray.
- Cover this and let it sit for another 20 to 30 minutes.
Steaming The Bread On Stove Top
- Heat a large steamer on medium-high heat.
- You can grease the steamer plate with oil or line it with parchment paper.
- Place the bread and steam it for 12 minutes on medium-high heat.
- Switch off the flame. Let this sit for 5 minutes.
Pan Frying The Bread
- Heat 1 tablespoon to 2 tablespoon of oil in a pan or wok on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the steamed bread (4 at time or all 8) depending on the size of the pan.2 to 3 tablespoon Oil
- Once bread starts becoming golden brown at the bottom, flip and cook on the other side till it becomes golden in color.
- Tomato Basil bread is ready. Serve hot with chili sauce or soy sauce or simply tomato ketchup, and enjoy.
Tomato Basil Bread In Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Proofing - Once the dough is formed, place the parchment paper in the inner pot of the Instant Pot and cover the pot with the glass lid. Select YOGURT mode and proof the dough for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Steam Tomato Basil Bread In Instant Pot - Once the dough has risen, follow the same steps given above to form a log and cut them into 8 equal bread roll pieces. Pour 2 to 3 cups of water into the steel insert of your instant pot (IP). Place trivet or ring. Use saute mode, let the water get heated up, and start boiling.
- Place the cut bread on a steamer pan, plate or steamer, or bamboo basket lined with parchment paper on the trivet and close the instant pot lid.
- Keep the pressure valve venting and not sealing. The timer does not work on venting mode and instant pot will not beep here, so set an external timer. Choose STEAM mode and steam for 5 to 6 minutes.
- After the cooking time is done, let this sit for another 2 to 3 minutes before removing it from the IP.
- Frying The Tomato Basil Bread On Instant Pot - Turn on the saute mode of your instant pot and heat 2 tablespoon of oil. Place the steamed bread in two batches. Once the bread starts becoming golden brown at the bottom, flip and cook on the other side till it becomes golden in color.
Notes
- You can similarly prepare Spinach bread by substituting tomatoes and basil with spinach.
- Cream cheese can be substituted with feta or other favorite cheese.
- You can add other spices to the filling and make this bread more flavorful.
Nutrition
If you like this Tomato Basil Bread or Buns recipe,
Don't miss to check out Vienna bread that garnered more than a million page views, other delicious bread and flatbread recipes on this blog.
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Jen
This looks and sounds delicious. I haven’t had anything like this before and can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing
Chethana Hegde
This bread came out so well! I am still new to baking, and being able to make breads on a pan instead of the oven really helps with my confidence as I was able to make & handle the dough well. Many thanks for sharing this recipe! 😊