Ube Cheese Pandesal

Ube Cheese Pandesal is a delightful and colourful twist on the classic Filipino bread roll known as “pandesal.” This modern and creative version incorporates two key ingredients: ube (purple yam) and cheese. Ube lends its vibrant purple hue and a subtle earthy sweetness, while cheese adds a savoury and creamy element to the soft and fluffy pandesal.

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You may want to try our Ube Pandesal

In this recipe, we’ll explore how to make ube cheese pandesal from scratch, offering you a delightful blend of flavours and a visually appealing treat. These rolls are perfect for breakfast, snacks, or as a sweet and savoury accompaniment to your favourite Filipino dishes. Whether you have a fondness for traditional pandesal or you’re eager to explore new flavours, ube cheese pandesal is a delightful and inviting addition to your baking repertoire.

Prepare to embark on a journey into the world of Filipino-inspired bread making as we dive into the delicious world of ube cheese pandesal.

Why is Pandesal Sweet?

Pandesal is typically mildly sweet due to the inclusion of sugar in the dough recipe. The sweetness is a defining characteristic of traditional pandesal and sets it apart from other types of bread. There are several reasons why pandesal is sweet:

1. Cultural Preference: Sweetness in bread is a common preference in many Filipino households. It complements various savory and salty Filipino dishes, making pandesal a versatile choice for pairing with breakfast spreads, Filipino barbecue, stews, and more.
2. Historical Influence: Pandesal has its roots in Spanish-influenced Filipino cuisine. The term “pandesal” itself is derived from the Spanish words “pan de sal,” which means “salted bread.” Over time, the Filipino version of pandesal evolved to include sugar, resulting in a slightly sweet flavour.
3. Tradition: Sweet pandesal has become a beloved tradition in the Philippines. People of all ages enjoy its slightly sweet taste, which is often paired with classic Filipino breakfast items like corned beef, fried eggs, and hot chocolate.
4. Versatility: The mild sweetness of pandesal makes it suitable for both savoury and sweet fillings or spreads. It can be filled with cheese, jam, peanut butter, or used as a base for sandwiches with various fillings.

The amount of sugar in pandesal recipes can vary, with some recipes calling for more sugar for a sweeter taste, while others use less for a milder sweetness. If you prefer a less sweet version of pandesal, you can adjust the amount of sugar in the recipe to suit your taste.

Overall, the slight sweetness of pandesal is a part of its unique charm and versatility, making it a beloved staple in Filipino cuisine.

What can I use instead of Ube Extract?

If you don’t have ube extract or purple yam (ube) available, you can still achieve a similar purple colour and a mild earthy flavour in your recipes using alternative ingredients. Here are some options:

1. Purple Sweet Potatoes: Purple sweet potatoes, sometimes called Okinawan sweet potatoes or Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, are a natural source of purple color and a similar earthy flavour to ube. Steam or boil them until soft, mash them, and use the mashed purple sweet potatoes in your recipe. Adjust the amount to achieve the desired colour and flavour.
2. Purple Yam Powder: You can find purple yam powder or purple sweet potato powder in some specialty stores or online. Mix the powder with water to create a paste and use it in your recipes as a substitute for ube extract.
3. Food Colouring: If you’re primarily looking to achieve the purple colour rather than the exact ube flavour, you can use natural or artificial food colouring. Start with a small amount and adjust until you reach the desired shade of purple.
4. Purple Food Gel: Purple food gel or gel-based food colouring is another option for adding colour to your recipes. It provides a more intense colour than liquid food colouring, so use it sparingly and adjust as needed.
5. Blueberries: If you’re making a recipe that can accommodate a fruity flavour, consider using mashed or blended blueberries. Blueberries can impart a natural purple hue to your dish, and their sweet-tart flavour complements many desserts.
6. Blackberries: Similar to blueberries, blackberries can also be used to create a purple colour in your recipes. Blend or mash them and strain the juice to remove seeds before using it.

Keep in mind that while these alternatives can provide a similar purple colour, they may not replicate the exact flavour profile of ube. Experiment with these options to achieve the desired colour and taste for your specific recipe, and adjust quantities as needed.

Have you tried our Ube Crinkles?

How to Make Ube Cheese Pandesal?

Start by combining the warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a bowl. Allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes or until it becomes frothy. In a separate bowl, mix the mashed purple yam (ube) with the remaining sugar until well combined. You can add a few drops of purple food colouring to enhance the colour if desired. Then, in a large mixing bowl, combine the activated yeast mixture, the ube-sugar mixture, and 2 cups of flour. Mix well. Gradually add the remaining flour and salt, then mix in the softened butter. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can add a bit more flour if needed to achieve the right consistency. Form the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1-2 hours or until it has doubled in size. Whilst the dough is rising, prepare the cheese filling. In a bowl, combine the grated cheese, sugar, and softened butter. Mix until well incorporated. Set aside. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to release the air. Divide the dough into small portions, about 2-3 tablespoons each. Flatten each portion of dough in the palm of your hand, add a small amount of the cheese filling in the centre, then seal and roll it into a ball. Ensure the cheese is completely enclosed within the dough. Roll each filled dough ball in breadcrumbs, then arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the dough balls with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for an additional 30 minutes. Lastly, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). After the final rise, lightly brush the tops of the pandesal with a little milk and sprinkle granulated sugar over them. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20-25 minutes or until the pandesal turns golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving.

Here’s the recipe for Ube Cheese Pandesal:

Ingredients:

For the Ube Pandesal Dough:

• 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk (110°F or 43°C)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup mashed purple yam (ube)
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• Purple food colouring (optional, for a more vibrant colour)

For the Cheese Filling:

• 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese (or cheese of your choice)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

For Coating:

• Breadcrumbs
• Granulated sugar

Instructions:

Prepare the Ube Pandesal Dough:

1. In a bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar. Allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes or until it becomes frothy.
2. In a separate bowl, mix the mashed purple yam (ube) with the remaining sugar until well combined. You can add a few drops of purple food colouring to enhance the colour if desired.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the activated yeast mixture, the ube-sugar mixture, and 2 cups of flour. Mix well.
4. Gradually add the remaining flour and salt, then mix in the softened butter. Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. You can add a bit more flour if needed to achieve the right consistency.
5. Form the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1-2 hours or until it has doubled in size.

Prepare the Cheese Filling:

1. While the dough is rising, prepare the cheese filling. In a bowl, combine the grated cheese, sugar, and softened butter. Mix until well incorporated. Set aside.

Assemble the Ube Cheese Pandesal:

1. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to release the air.
2. Divide the dough into small portions, about 2-3 tablespoons each.
3. Flatten each portion of dough in the palm of your hand, add a small amount of the cheese filling in the centre, then seal and roll it into a ball. Ensure the cheese is completely enclosed within the dough.
4. Roll each filled dough ball in breadcrumbs, then arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Cover the dough balls with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for an additional 30 minutes.

Baking:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. After the final rise, lightly brush the tops of the pandesal with a little milk and sprinkle granulated sugar over them.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20-25 minutes or until the pandesal turns golden brown.
4. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy your homemade ube cheese pandesal, a delightful Filipino snack or breakfast treat!

Serve and enjoy this Ube Cheese Pandesal with family and friends!

Trending now: Keto Air Fryer Pandesal

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

More Ube Recipes

Ube Cake (Filipino Purple Yam Cake)

Ube Custard (Leche Flan) Cake

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