Appetizing brioche bread with no milk nor butter

This brioche bread resembles those soft milk buns…but with no milk at all, but water.

Yes, these delicacies are prepared with no dairies without losing any taste. We’ve been eating them for breakfast, and the aroma they spread when I warm them is so inviting and comforting.

Let me tell you in advance it is not a quick recipe. It is not difficult, but the dough needs to rest for three times. I kneaded the dough in the late morning and baked them in the evening. The morning after I just warmed them for a few minutes. My husband ate them with fruit jam, but I like them just as they are, with no add-ons.

This recipe, called in Italian as Water Brioche, has some variations. I made a personal (healthy) choice: use extra virgin olive oil instead of butter or lard. The result? A light bun you would bet is prepared with milk with just 135 calories.

Let me tell you the (only) annoying part of the recipe: mix the oil with the dough. Just for a chemical reason, it is going to be difficult to have the oil absorbed by the dough. I used my bread machine for the whole kneading, including this step. You just have to stop it once in a while and try to unify the dough with a wood spoon or spatula. It is worth it for the result you’re going to have.