Ube Pandesal: Best Cheeses To Pair With The Purple Yam Bread

Ube cheese pandesal is a Filipino bread roll with a sweet ube (purple yam) flavour and a melted cheese filling. The cheese is usually cut into squares or cubes to maximise the amount of cheese in each bun. The dough is often made with ube powder, although fresh ube, frozen grated ube, or ube halaya (purple yam jam) can be used. The buns are usually coated in breadcrumbs and can be drizzled with condensed milk for extra sweetness.

How to make ube pandesal with cheese

Ube pandesal with cheese is a variation of the traditional Filipino breakfast bread, pandesal. It is a soft and fluffy bread with a subtle ube flavour and a melty cheese filling. It is perfect for breakfast or as a snack. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make this delicious treat.

Ingredients:

• Warm water (around 110°F)
• Active dry yeast or instant yeast
• Granulated sugar
• Salt
• Oil (canola or vegetable)
• Ube extract or ube powder or fresh ube
• All-purpose flour or bread flour
• Breadcrumbs
• Cheese (such as Eden cheese, cheddar cheese, or cream cheese)

Optional Ingredients:

• Egg
• Milk
• Butter

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Yeast

In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir until the yeast and sugar are dissolved. Let the mixture stand for about 10 minutes until it becomes bubbly. This step is important to ensure that your yeast is active and alive.

Step 2: Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, oil, ube extract, and yeast mixture. Mix until a rough dough forms. If using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment and knead the dough for about 10 minutes. If kneading by hand, it may take 13-15 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic. You can test this by doing the windowpane test. Take a small piece of dough, flatten it, and stretch it out. If it breaks easily, it needs more kneading. If it stretches into a thin membrane without breaking, it is ready!

Step 3: First Rise

Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, dry place until it doubles in size. This usually takes about 1-2 hours.

Step 4: Shape and Fill the Dough

Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into equal portions, depending on how many pieces you want to make. Flatten each piece of dough and place your desired filling in the centre. You can use cheese, ube jam, or a combination of both. Seal the dough by gathering the edges and pinching them together. Shape the dough into a ball.

Step 5: Second Rise

Roll the shaped dough in breadcrumbs and place them on a baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap and let them rise again for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 6: Bake the Ube Pandesal

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the ube pandesal for 15-20 minutes or until they are slightly browned. Enjoy your freshly baked ube pandesal!

Tips:

• If your dough is sticky, try kneading with lightly oiled or damp hands instead of adding more flour.
• To ensure even-sized pandesal, weigh the dough and divide it into equal portions.
• To prevent the filling from oozing out, completely fold the dough over the filling and pinch to seal before shaping.
• You can freeze the ube pandesal and reheat them in the oven or microwave for a few minutes before serving.

The history of ube cheese pandesal

Ube cheese pandesal is a variation of the traditional Filipino breakfast bread, pandesal. The rise in popularity of ube, or purple yam, in recent years has led to a plethora of new food creations, including ube halaya, ice cream, cakes, and cheesecakes. Ube pandesal is one of the latest additions to this list.

Ube cheese pandesal is believed to have first been created by Kimmy Bakes Bakeshop in Cavite, Philippines, a few years ago. They posted pictures of their mouth-watering ube cheese bread on Facebook, and the rest is history. The combination of sweet purple yam and melted cheese captured the hearts (and taste buds) of Filipinos nationwide.

Ube pandesal is made by adding ube powder, purple yam jam (ube halaya), mashed fresh ube, or frozen grated ube to the traditional pandesal dough. The dough is then filled with cheese, sealed, and shaped into balls before being baked. The result is a soft, pillowy, and delicious breakfast or snack option.

The ube flavour is usually subtle, so it doesn't overpower the traditional pandesal taste. The bread can be enjoyed with coffee and eggs at breakfast or with warm milk at merienda (an afternoon snack).

The cheese used in ube cheese pandesal is typically a white cheese or Eden cheese, cut into cubes or squares. The bread also usually has a breadcrumb coating, giving it a unique texture.

Ube cheese pandesal has become extremely popular, with many social media posts dedicated to this tasty treat. It is now a staple in local bakeries and is also easy to make at home.

How to serve and store ube cheese pandesal

Ube cheese pandesal is a delicious variation of the traditional Filipino breakfast bread, Pandesal. It is best served freshly baked, but be careful as the melted cheese filling can be very hot. It is a perfect breakfast or midday snack and goes well with coffee, tea, or your favourite beverage.

Serving:

Ube cheese pandesal is best enjoyed freshly baked, but be cautious as the melted cheese filling can be very hot. It is a delicious breakfast option or midday snack and pairs well with coffee, tea, or your favourite beverage.

Storage:

• Ube pandesal with cheese stays soft for several days after baking when stored properly.
• For short-term storage, place the bread in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature for up to two days.
• For longer storage, freezing is recommended. Freeze the bread in a freezer-safe container or bag and consume within a month.
• To reheat frozen pandesal, you can use an oven or toaster. Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the rolls for 5-7 minutes until warm. Alternatively, you can use a microwave. Place the rolls on a microwavable plate, cover them with a slightly damp kitchen towel, and microwave for 30-40 seconds until warm. Avoid overheating, as this can make the bread tough and chewy.

Types of Cheese Used in Ube Cheese Pandesal:

The type of cheese used in ube cheese pandesal can vary, but it is typically a quick-melt variety. Here are some specific types of cheese that are commonly used:

• Quick melt cheese: Cut into cubes or squares to ensure melty cheese throughout the bread.
• Cheddar cheese: A sharp variety is recommended, and it is cut into cubes.
• Cream cheese: Offers a different flavour profile.
• Velveeta cheese: Cut into squares to maximise cheesy areas inside the buns.

The key is to use a cheese that melts well and that you enjoy eating on its own. You can also experiment with different types of cheese to find your preferred flavour combination.

What is ube?

Ube is a purple yam native to the Philippines. It is also known as Dioscorea alata and has a brown, bark-like exterior with vibrant purple flesh. Ube has a sweet, nutty flavour and is often compared to vanilla and pistachio. It is commonly used in desserts such as cakes, cookies and ice cream.

Ube is typically consumed in the form of ube halaya (ube jam), which is made by boiling and mashing the yam, then mixing it with coconut milk, evaporated or condensed milk, and butter. Ube halaya can be eaten as it is or used as a dessert topping or filling. It can also be added to cookie dough or spread on toast.

Ube has become increasingly popular worldwide, especially in the USA, where it can be found in specialty grocery items, such as pancake mixes, spreads, and extracts. It is also offered in eateries like cafes, bakeries, and boba shops.

In addition to its use in desserts, ube is grown for ornamental purposes due to its vibrant colour.

How to use ube powder in your recipe

Ube powder is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various recipes, from bread to desserts. Here are some tips on how to use ube powder in your cooking and baking:

Rehydrating Ube Powder

Rehydrating ube powder is a crucial step before incorporating it into your recipes. Here's how to do it:

• Place the ube powder in a bowl and add hot or boiling water.
• Whisk the mixture to combine the powder and water thoroughly.
• Cover the bowl and let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes to allow the powder to absorb the water fully.
• Whisk the mixture again to ensure all the powder has been incorporated and there are no lumps.

Using Ube Powder in Bread

Ube powder can be used to make delicious and colourful ube pandesal, a Filipino bread roll. Here are the steps to follow:

• Prepare the dough by combining sugar, salt, oil, ube extract, yeast mixture, and flour in a large bowl.
• Add the flour gradually, about half a cup at a time, until the dough starts to come together in a ball.
• Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until it becomes smooth and elastic. This may take around 8-10 minutes.
• Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, which usually takes about 2 hours.
• Once the dough has risen, divide it into equal portions and shape them into ovals or balls.
• If desired, flatten each piece of dough and add a filling, such as cheese or ube jam. Seal the dough by pinching the edges together and shape it again.
• Roll the dough in breadcrumbs for a crispy coating.
• Place the shaped dough on a baking sheet and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350-375°F and bake the ube pandesal for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly browned.

Using Ube Powder in Desserts

Ube powder can be used to make a variety of desserts, such as cookies, ice cream, and jams. Here are some tips:

• Cookies: Combine ube powder with ingredients like flour, sugar, oil, eggs, and baking powder or soda. Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes.
• Ice cream: Ube powder can be used to make ube coconut ice cream. Rehydrate the ube powder and combine it with coconut milk and other ingredients to create a purple yam-flavoured ice cream.
• Jam: Ube powder can be cooked with milk and sugar to create a thick ube jam or ube halaya. This can be used as a spread or filling for various desserts.

Frequently asked questions