For the tangzhong - water roux
½ cup water
¼ cup + 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
For the Yeast mixture
¼ cup water
2 teaspoon yeast
pinch of sugar
For the dough
400grams (around 2.5-3 cups) all purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
25g (1/4 cup) milk powder
6 tablespoon milk
1 egg
2 Tablespoon butter
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)
1 more egg, beaten with a splash of water, for eggwash
Mix the water and flour and heat it on medium flame until it starts to become a watery custard or tangzhong.
Add warm water plus a pinch of sugar to the yeast and leave it aside for 5 minutes so it becomes foamy.
Mix the dry ingredients and whisk till combined – flour, sugar, milk powder, salt, lemon zest and orange zest.
In a separate bowl mix together Milk, eggs, vanilla, all of the tangzhong, butter, and all of the yeast mixture.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and start kneading. Knead for 5 minutes on medium speed on a stand mixer. If kneading by hand, knead for a good 10 minutes. Let it rise in a draft free place until doubled. About 60 to 90 minutes.
Once doubled,divide dough into 16 equal pieces. Form an uniform ball and crimp the bottom. Place in a 9x13 pan with the seam side of the dough down. Do the same for remaining dough pieces. Cover it and let it double again.
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
Coat the dough with egg wash and bake in a preheated oven at 200C/400F for 20 minutes. When it’s done, the bread will sound hollow when tapped.
Notes
You can leave the egg and substitute ¼ cup water/milk for each egg if you do not want to use egg.