How to make your own Pandesal in Canada?

One of the biggest challenges we face as international students is missing moms, dads, Tita’s, Tito’s, or Lola’s delicious cooking. We know, you know, exactly what we’re talking about. When we first arrive here in Canada, we want to explore all that Canada has to offer. But sometimes we get a little homesick. But there is always a way to bring you back home, and that is achievable through Filipino food.

Here’s a favorite and an easy recipe for anyone craving Pandesal. Wait?! If you are not Filipino, but still reading this article, let us explain to you what Pandesal is. Take notes! 

Pandesal is a popular and common bread roll in the Philippines. The name stands for, Bread of Salt. This bread originated from Spanish Colonialism in the Phillippines. To this day, whether it’s made in someone’s backyard or a big manufacturing company. This bread has a special place in our Pinoy Hearts. 

Pandesal is made from simple ingredients such as:

1. Milk – 1 Cup
2. Butter – ¼ Cup (melted)
3. Instant Yeast – 2 Tsp 
4. Flour – 3 ¼ Cup All-purpose Flour
5. Egg – 1 Egg
6. Sugar – ¼ Cup sugar 
7. Salt – 1 Tsp Salt ball
8. Bread crumbs
9. Oil

+

• Bowl
• Pan
• Oven
• Towel

Steps: 

1. In a bowl, pour in warm milk
2. Pour in melted butter 
3. Crack in the egg
4. Add your yeast 
5. Add in the all-purpose flour
6. Add sugar + salt
7. Mix well and knead the dough
8. Roll the dough and place in an oiled bowl
9. → Let dough rest for 1 hour in the bowl (cover with a warm damp towel)

10. Remove Gas by kneading bread 
11. Roll bread into medium-sized rolls
12. Roll in bread crumbs and place them in the pan
13. → Let rest till doubled in size or at least 30 minutes
14. In the meantime, pre-heat the oven to 180* Degrees Celsius 
15. Bake rolls in the oven for 18-20 minutes 

Now that is what I call cooking. But wait there’s more. If you are accustomed to making Pandesal with Filipino Ingredients that is amazing, but not all Filipino Ingredients are accessible here. We got it covered.

• Milk – Almond Milk by Silk or regular milk 
• Butter – any unsalted butter bran (Walmart)
• Instant Yeast – any brand (Walmart)
• Flour – Whole wheat all-purpose flour by Great Value Brand 
• Egg – any brand (Walmart)
• Sugar – any brand (Walmart)
• Salt – any brand (Walmart)
• Bread crumbs – Pank bread crumbs 
• Oil – Olive oil any brand (Walmart)

How to eat Pandesal? The best part of a blank canvas is that it encourages you to be creative. The Pandesal role is your blank canvas and you can and should experiment with different flavors to find out what your favorite Pandesal creation is. Let’s look at some tasty examples

Pandesal with…

1. Cheese and butter
2. Peanut butter and banana 
3. Butter and dip it in coffee or hot chocolate
4. Jam
5. Sardines
6. Corned beef
7. Nutella 
8. Adobo

You get the point. Pandesal can be eaten with almost anything. It’s simple to make at home, and it gives you a warm memory of waking up to warm Pandesal on the kitchen table. When you’re far away from home, bring home to you and make some delicious Pandesal.

Please see the video below for more details on how to make a Pandesal in Canada!