How to Make Soft and Fluffy Pandesal Recipe - Filipino Bread Roll (2024)

Are you feeling inspired to try something new in the kitchen? Have you ever tasted the deliciously soft and fluffy pan de sal bread in the Philippines and wanted to make them yourself? Look no further because here is a perfect pandesal bread recipe that is slightly sweet and will leave your taste buds wanting more. Pandesal is a popular bread in the Philippines and is enjoyed by many at any time of the day. The aroma of freshly baked pandesal in the morning is enough to make anyone jump out of bed with excitement. This bread is softand slightly sweet, which makes it perfect for a morning breakfast or snack.

Down Memory Lane

I remember my time in the Philippines; eating pandesal at 5 in the morning is the first traditional Filipino breakfast. When I was out in the province (rural farmland) to visit my Lolo and Lola, a pandesal vendor, early in the morning, would walk the neighbourhood streets and yell PAndeSALLLLL! My Lola would wave this person down from her front door, and there would be an exchange of 5 pesos and freshly baked pandesal in a brown paper bag. It would be still soft and warm when we took it out of the bag, and we would enjoy pandesal with cheese whiz, or maybe that could be just me, and others enjoyed it with butter.

At the time, pandesal wasn’t commercialized in the area, so I’m sure these were homemade pandesal. I remember these pandesal rolls were so soft and chewy, and it’s probably the best pandesal recipe I’ve ever had. I remember there were so many versions of this Filipino dinner roll; one that stood out to me that I want to make someday is ube pandesal. Yum! Stay tuned.

Back to the Pandesal Recipe 🙂

Anyways, with this easy-to-follow recipe, you can make this delicious bread at home and impress your friends and family. All you need are a few simple ingredients that can be easily found in your kitchen pantry, and you are good to go. So, get ready to try something new in the kitchen and learn how to make soft and fluffy pandesal bread. Once you have tried this recipe, you won’t go back to store-bought bread. Let’s get started!

Tools You’ll Need to Make Pandesal

Pandesal Bread Dough Ingredients:

Toppings

How to Make this Pandesal Recipe Step by Step

Mix the warm water, yeast and honey together (yeast mixture), and let it sit for about 10 minutes. If the surface bubbles, that means the yeast is alive and active.

After 10 minutes, mix the cups of flour, salt, egg, and yeast mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Attach the dough hook attachment and mix the dough using a stand mixer for about 3 minutes to develop some gluten in the dough.

After 3 minutes, add the lard and mix again for 5 minutes.

Let the dough ferment for 1 hour or 2 hours.

After the dough has rested, place the dough on a floured surface. Wet your hands with water, gently knead the dough, and then stretch and fold the dough.

Once the dough forms a round ball, place the dough in an oiled tupperware and place it in the fridge for 24 hours.

After 24hrs, remove the dough from the fridge and place it on the counter to let the dough reach room temperature.

Once the dough has reached room temperature, form the dough into a nice ball.

Cut the dough and divide it into 8 somewhat equal pieces.

Shape the 8 pieces of dough into a ball.

Rub melted butter around the dough balls and sprinkle over some bread crumbs on each ball.

Cover the dough with an oiled plastic wrap to prevent the dough from drying. Let it proof for about a 1 hour or whenever thedough has doubled in size.

Time to Bake the Pandesal!

Place in a preheated oven at 375 Fahrenheit, andbake pandesal for 15-17 minutes.

After 10 minutes of baking, spray some water in the oven, rotate the pan 180 degrees, and spray some more water. Spraying the water will help keep the bread moist and help with the browning.

After 15-17 minutes, your bread should be nicely browned; remove the pandesal from the oven.

Place the pandesal on a cooling rack, rest for 5 minutes and serve 🙂

Watch How to Make Soft Pandesal in Youtube

Now that you’ve read about it, you’re in luck – you can watch how Filipino pandesal is made! This bread, known as one of the most popular Filipino bread, is a staple in many households and can be found in nearly every bakery or grocery store in the Philippines. The process of making pandesal at home is relatively simple, and the ingredients are readily available in most countries. Watch how this easy recipe is made below.

Please consider subscribing to my channel if you like this video by clicking on the button below.

For other buns and burger recipes, check out my other video recipes below.

Frequently Asked Questions about this Filipino Bread

Why is called Pandesal (Pan De Sal)?
Can I make pandesal dough overnight?
How long does it take to make pandesal?
What other type of fat can I use for pandesal?
Is it sticky while you’re kneading it?
Why is it important to make sure the yeast is still active?
How to make evenly sized pandesal?
Can I use a bread machine to make this recipe?
What is the key to making soft and fluffy pandesal?
What kind of flour is best for making perfect pandesal?
How do I know when the dough has been kneaded enough?
Can I make adjustments to this bread recipe to make it soft and buttery?
What should I do if I don’t have bread flour?
What to enjoy pandesal with?
How should I store thisFilipino bread rollto keep it fresh?

Why is called Pandesal (Pan De Sal)?

Pandesal has a rich history dating back to the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. The name “pandesal” comes from the Spanish words “pan” meaning bread and “de sal” meaning of salt; salt bread as some may say. It is believed that the Spanish colonizers introduced the concept of bread-making in the Philippines, and locals learned to make their own version of the bread like adding sugar, similar to what we do with spaghetti sauce.

It was commonly used as a breakfast food and was often paired with coffee, hot chocolate, or eggs. Over the years, pandesal recipes have evolved, with various versions of the bread being developed. Some recipes include adding ingredients such as cheese, and even ube (purple yam) to the dough. Despite these changes, pandesal is a traditional Filipino bread roll and has remained a beloved and iconic part of Philippine cuisine.

Can Imake pandesal dough overnight?

Yes, you can make pandesal dough overnight by using a refrigerator dough method. After mixing all the ingredients and kneading the dough, cover it tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. The cold temperature will slow down the yeast activity, allowing the dough to rise slowly and develop a more flavourful dough acccording to the book Pizza Bible by Tony Gemignani. The next day, you can shape the dough into balls, proof and bake it as usual. Just make sure to take the dough out of the refrigerator for at least an hour before shaping it to bring it back to room temperature.

How long does it take to make pandesal?

On average, it can take around 4-5 hours to make pandesal from start to finish, including the preparation, resting, rising, and baking time. With that said, if you want to develop more flavours and have a dough that is easier to digest, you can cold ferment it in the fridge for up to 48 hours with this recipe.

What other type of fat can I use for pandesal?

You can use vegetable shortening, butter, or coconut oil as replacements for lard in pandesal. You can also try using vegetable oil or olive oil, although the texture and taste of the pandesal may be slightly different. If you would like to make your own lard, visit my article on How to Render Your Own Lard.

Is it sticky while you’re kneading it?

Yes, this dough is very sticky because of the lard and the high hydration. If you have a stand mixer, I highly recommend using it. If not, to avoid the dough sticking to your hands, here are a few tips below

1. Use flour on your hands – Lightly dust flour on your hands before you start kneading. This will form a layer between the dough and your skin and prevent your hands from sticking to the dough. Try to avoid adding too much flour though as it may dry out the dough.
2. Oil your hands – Apply a small amount of oil like vegetable oil or olive oil, to your hands before you start kneading. This will create a barrier that will prevent the dough from sticking.
3. Use a dough scraper – A dough scraper can be used to scrape the dough from your hands as you perform this task.
4. Use cold water to moisten your hands – Dip your hands in cold water beforehand. This will moisten your hands and prevent the dough from sticking.
5. Let dough rest – Allow the dough to rest for 10-15 minutes.This will give the flour enough time to absorb moisture and make the dough less sticky.

Why is it important to make sure the yeast is still active?

Yeast is an essential ingredient in making bread and is responsible for the dough rising. If the yeast is not active, the dough will not rise and the bread will be dense and hard.

How to make evenly sized pandesal?

If you want evenly sized pandesal, you can use a digital food scale to weigh each dough ball.

Can I use abread machine to make this recipe?

Yes, you can use abread machine to make this recipe. Just follow your machine’s instructions for adding ingredients and setting the appropriate baking cycle.

What is the key to making soft and fluffy pandesal?

The key to makingsoft and fluffy pandesal is to knead the dough well, allowing it to rise properly, and shaping the dough into evenly sized pandesal before baking. In addition, the environment (i.e. temperature) plays a big role on how your dough turns out, so with practice, you’ll know how your dough reacts to your environment and make your adjustments accordingly.

What kind of flour is best formaking perfect pandesal?

Usingbread flour is best for making pandesal as it has a higher protein content, giving the bread a chewy texture and a good rise.

How do I know when thedough has been kneaded enough?

You can tell thedough has been kneaded enough when it becomes smooth and elastic and can be stretched without tearing. Also, if you slightly press the dough with your finger and the dough bounces back, that means it’s ready.

Can I make adjustments to this bread recipe to make itsoft and buttery?

Yes, you can adjust the recipe by adding more butter or using milk instead of water to make the rolls moresoft and buttery. If adding butter, start small by adding 1 to 2 tablespoons to the recipe and then see if that meets your liking.

What should I do if I don’t havebread flour?

You can substituteall-purpose flour or wheat flour even if the recipe calls forbread flour. However, the texture of the bread may not be as chewy, and it may not rise as well.

What to enjoy pandesal with?

Pandesal can be enjoyed in many ways, including:

• Pair it with coffee or tea for a perfect breakfast combination.
• Have it with the classic butter; you can never go wrong with butter.
• Add slices of ham and cheese and toast them for a warm breakfast treat.
• A breakfast sandwich with egg and bacon on pandesal makes for a delicious morning meal.

How should I store thisFilipino bread rollto keep it fresh?

To keep thepandesal fresh, store it in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, bread making is one of the most enjoyable and satisfying experiences in the kitchen. There is something magical about combining basic ingredients, kneading the dough, and waiting for it to rise before finally baking it to perfection. For me, pandesal is probably my favorite bread among all the other varieties. Its soft,fluffy texture and subtle sweetness make it the perfect accompaniment to any meal or even as a snack on its own. Especially when it is straight out of the oven, fresh pandesal is irresistible.

If you have yet to try making your own pandesal, I highly suggest you try it with this basic recipe. It will be a fun and rewarding activity, but you can also impress your family and friends with your baking skills. To get you started, here is adelicious pandesal recipe you can try at home. Happy baking in making your best pandesal ever!