Black Sesame Bread

Instructions

1. Prepare the yeast
   In a small bowl, combine warm milk, 1 teaspoon of the sugar, and the active dry yeast. Stir gently and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy and activated.
2. Mix the dough
   In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine bread flour, remaining sugar, and salt. Add the yeast mixture, warm water, softened butter, ground black sesame seeds, and black sesame paste (if using). Mix until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead the dough
   Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, or about 5-6 minutes in a stand mixer with a dough hook, until smooth and elastic. The dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky. The dough will have a beautiful gray color from the black sesame.
4. First rise
   Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
5. Shape the loaf
   Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. For a standard loaf, shape the dough into an oval and place in a greased 9x5 inch loaf pan. Alternatively, divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and shape into rolls. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes.
6. Prepare for baking
   Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Gently brush the top of the dough with beaten egg and sprinkle with whole black sesame seeds.
7. Bake the bread
   Bake for 30-35 minutes for a loaf (or 18-20 minutes for rolls), until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
8. Cool and serve
   Remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Enjoy as is, toasted with butter, or use for sandwiches.