Ube Pandesal with Cheese /Ube (Purple Yam) Filling

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Pandesal is a popular yeast-based bread in the Philippines. It is typically served hot and can be eaten as is or dipped in coffee, hot chocolate, or milk. It can also be served with butter, margarine, cheese, jam, peanut butter, chocolate spread, or extra fixings like as eggs, sardines, and meat.

Most bakeries make Pandesal in the morning for breakfast, however some bake it all day.

This recipe is a popular new type of Pandesal that includes a purple yam (ube) and cheese filling.

Pandesal means "salt bread" in Spanish, but this Filipino staple bread roll recipe is sweet, soft, and creamy because to the rich cheese and purple yam filling, which stays soft for a week, NOT! Because this bread will be gone in a matter of minutes.

Makes 12 bread rolls

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bread flour

• 1/4 cup Ube powder

• 1 tbsp liquid Ube extract or flavoring

• 6 tbsp granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup warm water

• 1/2 cup warm fresh milk

• 1 large egg

• 1 egg yolk

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter

• 1 tbsp instant dry yeast

• 1tsp salt

• 1/4 cup bread crumb

• Filling: 1 block of cheese (Quickmelt, Velveeta, Mild Cheddar Cheese), 1 cup Ube halaya (Purple yam) or more

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, or a bowl for stand mixer, add flour, ube powder, sugar, and salt. Mix to combine.

2. Pour in warm milk, water, then and add the egg and yolk, and mix with hand or dough attachment if using a stand mixer. Add the yeast and mix again.

3. Add the Ube extract and mix well until well combined. Grease hand with oil if kneading with hand, it will be very heavy and sticky.

4. Knead for 12-15 minutes if using your hands. Knead for 10 minutes if using a stand mixer, or until soft and smooth. Do the windowpane test to check.

5. Form the dough into a ball and lightly coat with oil. Place it back the large bowl and cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and place it in a warm area and let it rise for 1 hour or until it almost doubled in size.

6. Punch down the dough and divide it into 2 equal parts using a knife or bench scraper. Divide each dough into 6 equal pieces, or cut the dough weighing 50gms each. Roll each piece into a ball. Repeat the same with the other half.

7. Flatten a ball and place a cube of cheese or 1/2 tbsp of ube halaya (purple yam) at the center. Fold and pinch the edges of the dough enclosing the filling inside. Form it again into a ball and roll it in breadcrumbs, completely covering all sides.

8. Arrange the pieces on a baking sheet living some gaps in between (at least an inch). Cover with kitchen towel or plastic wrap and leave them to rise for another 1 hour.

9. Preheat oven 375F. Bake for 15 minutes or until slightly browned. Remove from oven and serve while hot!