Ube Cheese Pandesal (Purple Yam Cheese Bread)
I remember buying bread especially pandesal at Dondon's Bakery in BF Homes Paranaque where I grew up. You can smell the fresh baked pandesal (bread) a mile away.
When I first read an online article about Ube Cheese Pandesal, I was surprised to find that it was so popular in the Philippines.
This bread combines our familys' two favorite snacks, ube (purple yam jam) and cheese filling.
Ube Cheese Pandesal
purple yam cheese bread
2¼ tsp active dry yeast
1½ cups water (¼ cup for activating the yeast)
½ cup granulated sugar (plus 1 tsp sugar for activating the yeast)
4 cups all purpose flour
½ tsp salt
3 tbsp vegetable shortening (melted)
¼ cup ube powder
breadcrumbs
Filling
1 cup ube jam (halayang ube)
cheddar cheese (1x1 inch size)
Dissolve the yeast in ¼ cup of warm water and add 1 tsp sugar. Set aside until it bubbles.
In a standing mixer fitted with dough hook, , add 2 cups flour, sugar, salt.
Add the yeast mixture and egg. Mix until combine.
Dissolve the ube powder in 1¼ cup warm water. Pour the mixture in the dough.
Add the remaining 2 cups of flour. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover. Let it rise for an hour or until double in size.
Once the dough has doubled in size, shape the dough into a log and cut each piece that weighs 50 grams. This will result in around 22-23 pieces. You can use a weighing scale to be more accurate and uniform in size.
Take a piece of dough and using a rolling pin to flatten it in rectangular shape. Spread ube jam at the center of the dough.
Take 1 piece of cheese and place it on top of the ube jam. Then start to gather the sides of the dough at the center.
Continue to roll the dough so it will have smooth bottom.
Roll the dough in the breadcrumbs.
Let it rest for 30 minutes.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_4Zz8LCi6w&t=2s