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1
In a medium saucepan, cover the potato with the water and bring to a boil.
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2
Cook until the potato is just beginning to fall apart, about 15 minutes.
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3
Drain the potato, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
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4
Pass the potato through a ricer into a large bowl.
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5
Add the reserved potato water and let cool slightly.
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6
Stir in 6 tablespoons of the flour, the sugar and the yeast.
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7
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let stand overnight in a draft-free place.
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8
Uncover the starter; it should be foamy and have a slightly fermented aroma.
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9
Add the milk, eggs and 2 1/2 cups of the flour and stir until incorporated.
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10
Stir in 1 tablespoon of the butter, 2 tablespoons of the lard and the salt.
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11
Add the remaining 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time, and stir vigorously to form a silky, slightly soft dough that pulls away from the bowl as you stir, about 8 minutes.
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12
Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat with oil.
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13
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.
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14
Gently deflate the dough by turning it in the bowl several times.
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15
Cover the bowl and let the dough rise again until doubled, about 40 minutes.
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16
In a small bowl, combine the remaining 6 tablespoons of melted butter and 2 tablespoons of melted lard.
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17
Punch down the dough and divide it into 5 equal pieces.
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18
Cut 1 piece of dough into 18 equal pieces.
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19
Roll each piece into a ball; dip the balls in the melted butter and lard and place 3 balls in each cup of a muffin pan.
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20
Continue to form the rolls, working with 1 large piece of dough at a time.
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21
Brush the tops of the rolls with the butter and lard and set aside in a draft-free spot until risen just beyond the rims of the muffin cups, about 1 1/2 hours.
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22
Preheat the oven to 425.
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23
Bake the rolls in the lower and middle thirds of the oven for 15 minutes.
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24
Remove the rolls from the oven and brush liberally with the butter and lard.
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25
Return the rolls to the oven and bake for 5 to 6 minutes longer, or until golden all over.
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26
Serve warm or at room temperature