In the bowl of a stand mixer, pour in the warm water and sugar. 1/2 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Sprinkle the yeast over the water. Allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes. 1 package instant yeast
Add the eggs, oil, starter and salt. Mix on low speed until combined. Note: You do not need an active sourdough starter. It can be sourdough discard. 2 large eggs, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 cup sourdough starter discard, 1 teaspoon salt
Add 3 cups of flour and mix the dough using the beater blade until combined. At this point, add more flour, 1/4 cup at a time. I've found that sourdough starters are often varying in consistency, sometimes thicker or thinner than other times. Add enough flour so that the bread dough feels slightly tacky. It should not feel dry, but yet shouldn't stick all over your hands. We find that 3 1/2 cups of flour works great with our starter. The dough will get less sticky as you knead it, so be careful not to add too much flour at the start! 3-4 cups all-purpose flour
Knead the dough using the dough hook on the stand mixer for about 5-7 minutes or until the dough feels smooth, springs back if you touch it and doesn't feel too sticky.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with cheesecloth or loosely with plastic wrap and set it in a warm spot. Allow the dough to rise for 30-45 minutes or until nearly doubled.
On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 12 balls. (Or if you want smaller rolls, make 15.) Roll the dough between your hands to make a smooth ball, then place the dough balls in a greased 9x13" baking pan.
Allow the dough to rise while the oven preheats to 375ºF.
In a small bowl, whisk together one egg and one tablespoon of water. Brush this egg wash on the tops of the unbaked rolls. This gives them that shiny golden brown top. 1 large egg, 1 tablespoon water
Bake the rolls for about 20-22 minutes. Allow the rolls to cool on a wire rack.
Video
Notes
Use the dough setting on a bread machine to knead the dough...or kneading by hand! Just be careful not to add too much flour.The calories shown are based on the recipe making 12 rolls, with 1 serving being 1 roll. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**