Since the lockdown, quarantined Filipinos have started baking at home. Everywhere on social media, ube cheese pandesal is the top pastry of choice. What is it in this fluffy, purple creation that make people crave for it?
It’s the combination of Filipino favorites. The classic Filipino staple food, fluffy pandesal, but with a new twist of ube flavor. The ube adds a hint of sweetness to the mildly salty bread. Now, imagine that with a pocket of gooey cheddar cheese inside. Mmmhmm…
Ube cheese pandesal is such a hit, that a lot of home bakers have turned their hobby into a small business. Get a happy belly while supporting small businesses? Definitely a win-win.
If you want to give baking a try, here’s a recipe from Beb of foxyfolksy.com
INGREDIENTS
US Customary – Metric
- 1/4 cup ube powder
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil ––plus more for greasing
- 1 medium egg
- 1 tablespoon liquid ube extract (optional)
- 1 block quick melt cheese (165g) ––cut into 12 cubes
- 4 tablespoons breadcrumbs for coating
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, add hot water to ube. Mix until completely rehydrated.
- Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
- Add warm milk and oil in to the large bowl. Make sure the oil is just warm—not hot—to avoid cooking the egg. Add the egg and mix, followed by the yeast. Mix well.
- Add the rehydrated ube to the bowl. If you’re using ube extract, add it in too. Mix until well combined. To mix well, you can use a stand mixer or your well-oiled up hands.
- Transfer the dough to a clean, flat surface for kneading. Don’t forget to oil both hands to keep the dough from sticking. Knead the dough for 7-10 minutes or until soft and smooth. You’ll know it’s been kneaded enough if it stretched into a thin membrane when you pull it apart.
- Roll the dough into a ball, lightly coat with oil, and place back in the large bowl. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel. Keep the bowl in a warm area. Let the dough rise for 30 minutes to an hour, or until it’s double the original size.
- Punch down the dough to release the gas. Using a knife, divide the dough into two. Take one piece and divide it into 6 equal pieces. Repeat for the other piece of dough. Roll the small pieces into small balls.
- Using a rolling pin or your hand, flatten a ball of dough. Put a slice of cheese in the center. Fold the dough over the cheese to cover it. Roll it into a ball shape, then roll in breadcrumbs. Make sure the ball is completely covered.
- Put the balls on a baking sheet. Leave at least an each of space in between balls. Let the balls rise for another 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven 340° F /170°C.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly brown. Serve while hot. Caution: hot filling inside!
Other bakers have put their twist on it by using other fillings. Try replacing cheddar cheese with cream cheese, macapuno, or even ube halaya.
It may sound intimidating to make bread, but the it’s worth it! There is a certain fulfilment when you bake your own bread. Now, go forth and fill your house with the smell of freshly baked pandesal.