Pull-Away Cheese Rolls

PreparationPrepare the dough: Combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water in a small bowl, and stir to dissolve. Set it aside until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes. Combine the flour, salt, and powdered milk in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook. Add the egg and vegetable oil, and give the mixture a good stir. Add the yeast mixture and mix on medium speed until the ingredients are incorporated. Then raise the speed to high and continue to mix until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 3 minutes. Coat a glass or ceramic bowl with olive oil, put the dough in the bowl, and roll it around to coat it with the oil. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm, draft-free place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour. Prepare the filling: Rinse the halloumi under cold running water; or, if you are using akawi packed in brine, submerge it in water, changing the bath three times to rid it of overly salty brine. Drain the cheese and shred it on the large holes of a box grater. Combine the halloumi, parsley, mozzarella, and oregano in a bowl, and stir to mix. Form and bake the rolls: Preheat the oven to 475°F. Combine the sesame and nigella seeds on a plate. Coat a 12-inch cake pan with olive oil. Fill a small bowl with the 1/4 cup olive oil. Liberally coat your hands with olive oil. Punch the dough down. Pull off a piece about the size of a baseball and squeeze it between your thumb and index finger until a ball about the size of a walnut comes through. Separate the ball from the dough in your palm by pinching your index finger over your thumb. Flatten the ball in the palm of your hand, stretching it to fit your palm. Place 1 tablespoon of the filling in the center and gather the edges around it, pinching to seal it, forming a purse shape. Dip the smooth side into the olive oil, then into the seed mixture, and place it, sealed side down, in the cake pan. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling, arranging the rolls tightly in concentric circles, beginning with the outer ring and working your way to the center. Drizzle a little olive oil over the rolls and bake until they are pale gold, about 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the rolls cool for a bit. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to loosen the rolls. Invert a plate over the pan, flip the plate and pan together, and remove the pan. Invert a second plate over the rolls and flip again, so the rolls are seed side up. Place the plate on the table and let your guests pull one roll at a time from the loaf. Reprinted with permission from The Arab Table by May S. Bsisu, © 2005