The unique flavor of pandan is hard to explain, but its one that I love. It's a common flavor used in Filipino, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Thai cuisine and you can usually find pandan paste at specialty grocery stores. This bread gets its soft and fluffy texture from tangzhong and I've linked to the recipe (see note section), so plan to make it ahead. It's best used as soon as possible, but it will keep in the refrigerator for up to one day.
3tbspunsalted butter, cut into small pieces and softened to room temperature
2teaspoonsoil
Instructions
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Place the milk, one egg, tangzhong, and pandan paste in the well. Switch to the dough hook attachment and mix the ingredients together on medium speed just until the dough comes together. Add the butter and continue mixing on medium speed for 18 to 20 minutes or until the dough smooth and elastic. It should not be too sticky at this point. You can test the dough by stretching a small piece. You should be able to stretch it very thin without it breaking.
Shape the dough into a ball shape. Coat the inside of a bowl with oil and place the dough in it. Cover the bowl with a damp towel until the dough has doubled in size, about 40 minutes.
Transfer the dough to a clean work surface and divide it into four equal parts. Form each part into a ball and cover them with plastic wrap. Rest the dough balls for 15 minutes.
Roll each dough ball into an oval shape. Fold each end of the oval into the middle of the dough with one end slightly overlapping the other. Turn the dough over and flatten it with a rolling pin. Turn the dough again so the folds face up. Roll the dough into a log. Repeat with the rest of the dough balls.
Place the rolls in a bread pan and cover it with plastic wrap for 40 minutes, or until they have doubled in size. At this point preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a small bowl, beat one egg with a tablespoon of water. Brush the top of the bread with the egg wash. Bake the bread for approximately 30 minutes.
Notes
For the tangzhong (which is a mixture of flour and water that is cooked to a certain temperature), follow the instructions for just the tangzhong and not the whole bread. You only need 120 grams (about half of the recipe) of tangzhong for this recipe and so store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.Recipe adapted from two recipes from Christine's Recipes: Japanese Style Bacon and Cheese Bread and Hokkaido Milk Toast
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.