Mexican Telera Roll | Bread Recipe

Mexican Telera rolls aka Mexican breads have a slightly sweet flavor and a soft, fluffy texture. They are the perfect size to make any Mexican sandwiches or serve them on the side with your favorite entrees. Making this telera bread recipe will make any meal memorable!

What is a Telera Roll? 

Telera rolls are a traditional Mexican baked good. Synonymous with the Mexican torta bread, teleras are perfect for making the traditional tortas, also known as the torta bread roll sandwich. Occasionally, these delicacies may be referred to as Mexican bread or mexican telera bread. Infused with a slightly sweet flavor, their soft texture perfectly complements a variety of dishes.

Often served alongside mouthwatering soups like sopa de fideo or sopa de lentejas, it's no surprise that many consider these bolillo teleras as the ultimate culinary companion. Although primarily utilized as a torta roll in Mexico, they also shine as standalone treats, toasted and topped with refried beans and queso fresco or simply enjoyed warm with butter. Get ready to experience a sublime taste sensation with this versatile bread roll!

Essential Ingredients for Crafting Telera Bread

When you make telera bread, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• All-purpose flour - You could substitute with all-purpose wheat flour, but it may change the ratios and texture a bit.
• Salt - You can use sea salt, kosher, or table salt.
• Dry active yeast - You can use yeast found in packets or buy it in bulk.
• Warm water - This is to help proof the yeast.
• Softened unsalted butter - You could replace the butter with oil if you want to make it vegan.
• Sugar - You just need a few tablespoons of granulated sugar.
• Small amount of oil to grease the bowl.

Step by Step Guide - How to Make Mexican Telera Bread at Home

There are several steps involved in making Mexican telera bread at home. Here’s how it breaks down.

Making the dough

1. Start by adding the dry ingredients including your surface mix flour to the mixing bowl of your stand mixer, then introduce the hot tap water and butter.
2. Next, attach the dough hook to the stand mixer and knead your bread dough for at least 8 to 10 minutes on low, or until you achieve the perfect dough consistency: a soft, pliable ball.

Proofing the dough

1. Once a ball forms, you can proof the sticky dough in the Instant Pot.
2. Next, place the lid on top and press the yogurt button. Leave the dough in the pot for 60 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
3. When your dough has doubled in size, gently punch it down to deflate the dow. 
4. Next, dust a flat surface with a little flour and knead the dough on the floured surface with your hands for a few minutes.

Shaping the dough

1. Next, shape your bread dough into a flat circle, ensuring it's at the perfect consistency, and divide it into 6 equitable portions. Roll each piece into a ball, lightly surface mix flour onto each one, then cover them with a clean towel.
2. When covered, apply a rolling pin or your hand to gently stretch out the dough towards the ends just a bit; this should shape into a slightly oval form, extending about 5 to 6 inches long.
3. Repeat the process with the remaining bread dough to ensure homogeneity.
4. Next, position the shaped dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. After kneading, cover the bread dough with a towel and let it rest for a minimum of 30 minutes. This resting period allows the dough to nearly double in bulk before baking.

Make the Indentations & Let it Rest:

1. Next, use a wooden spoon handle or chopsticks to press two deep marks on the long part of the bread dough. The marks should reach all the way to the bottom without cutting through but visually dividing it into three long sections to achieve a perfect surface mix flour effect.
2. Repeat this process twice to achieve the Telera rolls shape with three divisions on all the rolls. The consistency of the dough is vital at this stage.
3. Finally, brush a little oil on top of the roll and cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Your bread dough should rest until it's nearly doubled in volume, which will take about 30 minutes.

Bake the Bread

1. Preheat your oven to 400 °F. 
2. Next, brush the tops with water and put them on the middle oven rack and then bake the telera rolls for 15 to 18 minutes or until the internal temperature of the bread reaches 190 °F. 
3. When the Telera is done, remove them from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack.
4. Once slightly cooled, cut the roll and spread some whipped honey butter or butter and sugar on top.

Pro Tips and Tricks for the Best Telera Rolls

Craving authentic Mexican food? Follow these easy, style-approved tips and tricks for making Mexican telera rolls, a type of bread flour-based delight that often forms the basis of traditional sandwich recipes:

• Start by using warm water to help proof the yeast
• Allow the freshly baked telera rolls, similar to what's used for the classic tortas or drowned sandwiches, to cool before serving
• Keep your sugar proportions in check; adding more than required in the recipe calls can cause dough clumping
• Shape those perfect loaves using a chopstick for those bread rolls reminiscent of what many bakeries call torta buns

Frequently Asked Questions

Do try our other Mexican recipes

If you are intrigued by this bread roll recipe from Mexico, including the unique torta bread like telera and bolillo, be sure to savor our other irresistible Mexican recipes as well, which effortlessly incorporate ingredients like refried beans, and queso fresco.

• Sopa De Fideo
• Sopa De Lentejas
• Arroz Verde
• Cucumber Salsa
• Tostadas
• Vegetarian Fajitas
• Pinto Beans
• Sofritas

Let us know what you think

If you make this delicious recipe, let us know how it went! When you make this, be sure to take a pic and tag us on Instagram @dbellyrulesdmind or Facebook @thebellyrulesthemind!