Pandesal

Pandesal is a sweet little roll from the Philippines usually available from the bakeries in the morning fresh out of the oven. You can buy the Pandesal already made from many Asian food markets but to enjoy the full experience you really need to bake Pandesal at your home. The Pandesal is an easy to make Filipino recipe. I have included a few of my secret ingredients and tips on making this delicious bread for those of you who may be first time Pandesal bakers. You really need to try this recipe along with your morning coffee or the children like it with their milk or Milo. Enjoy.

Recipe

Ingredients

¼ cup warm water

1 tablespoon sugar

2 packages rapid rise yeast

4 cups bread flour

¾ cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

4 tablespoon vital wheat gluten

1 cup milk

5 tablespoon butter

½ teaspoon yellow food coloring

4 egg yolks

½ cup bread crumbs

Steps

1) Dissolve yeast into ¼ cup warm water along with 1 tablespoon water. Set aside.

2) Mix the 4 cups bread flour, ¾ sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 4 tablespoon vital wheat gluten in large bowl.

3) In separate microwavable bowl mix the 1 cup milk and 5 tablespoon butter. Microwave milk and butter for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir until butter is completely melted into the milk. Cool mixture to lukewarm. Add the ½ teaspoon yellow food coloring and 4 egg yolks to the milk and butter mixture. Stir well.

4) Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture from step 2 along with the yeast mixture from step 1.

5) Mix well until dough ball forms. Turn out dough on a lightly flour surface and knead for 7 minutes. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with cloth. Let dough raise in a warm location until double in size. This takes approximately 2 hours.

6) Preheat oven to 320 degrees.

7) Turn out dough again on a lightly flour surface and knead for 7 minutes. Then roll dough to 1 inch thickness and cut with small round cookie cutter.

8) Lightly coat tops of each Pandesal roll with bread crumbs and place in a greased baking pan leaving approximately ¼ inch separation between each Pandesal.

9) Bake Pandesal for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.

10) Remove from oven and enjoy!

There are many other recipes from the Philippines available on the internet. I would encourage you to search for your favorite Filipino recipes such as Pancit, Lumpia, Coco de Pan, and many others. You can experience the taste of the Philippines wherever you may live!

Books

There are a wide variety of Filipino recipe books available. Amazon.com offers excellent prices and low shipping costs on all the Filipino recipe books. Below is a sample selection of the Filipino cookbooks that are available: