The Best Colombian Pan Aliñado (Seasoned Bread)

This recipe for Colombian pan aliñado is one of the easiest bread recipes you can find. And just like pandebonos, buñuelos, and almojábanas, pan aliñado can be found in almost every bakery in Colombia.

Pan aliñado has different names in Colombia depending on the region, city, or neighborhood. You can also find it as pan blandito or pan colombiano. Some people stuff the soft, pillowy center with shredded cheese. While others sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese or their favorite seasoning. I love making it with lots of shredded mozzarella in the center and then sprinkling the top with Everything Bagel Seasoning.

Watch the Colombian Pan Aliñado Video

Colombian Pan Aliñado Ingredients

Flour

As with all bread recipes, I use bread flour. It contains a higher percentage of protein, resulting in a much better texture. However, you can also use all-purpose flour.

Active Dry Yeast

Activating dry yeast is easy to do and it’s one of the most important steps when making bread. Make sure you use warm milk to activate it with the help of a little sugar. Instant dry yeast can also be used by mixing it directly with the flour. However, I find that I get a nicer texture with the regular active dry yeast.

Butter

We’ll be using unsalted butter to have better control of the seasoning. Just place it in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes to melt it.

Sugar

For this recipe, we’ll be using white granulated sugar. It’s a small amount to give it some flavor, but you can add more if you want your bread to be extra sweet.

Salt

A small amount of salt is used for this recipe, mainly to balance the level of sweetness.

Egg Wash

Mixing a whole egg with about a tablespoon of water will create an egg wash that we’ll use to brush the top of the bread rolls. This gives them a shiny, golden brown color. If you prefer not to use eggs in your recipes, then you can use a couple of tablespoons of whole milk instead.

Everything Bagel Seasoning

This is my go-to seasoning whenever I make pan aliñado. The word “aliñado” means seasoned, so why not sprinkle this bread with the best mix of seasoned ingredients? It has onion and garlic flakes, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and salt. In my opinion, it is what makes this recipe stand out above the rest.

How To Make Colombian Pan Aliñado

1. Activate the dry yeast. We’ll use warm milk to activate the yeast because it gives the bread a delicious flavor. You can also use water to activate it. Make sure it is between 100°F – 110°F (37°C – 43°C) so the dry yeast activates properly. If it’s too hot, you will most likely kill it. If it’s not warm enough, it will not activate. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can use the inside of your wrist to test it. If it’s really warm, but not hot, it’s ready.
2. Add the melted butter to the yeast. After about 5-8 minutes the yeast will form a thick foam on top of the milk. This is a great sign that it was activated properly. At this point, you can add the melted butter and stir.
3. Mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. I use a large whisk to do this.
4. Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and knead. I always use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment to knead any bread dough. I set the speed between 1-2 and let it knead for about 10 minutes. You can also mix the yeast mixture with the dry ingredients in a large bowl and then knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and elastic.
5. Let the dough rest. After kneading the dough, the gluten will have developed quite nicely. Letting the gluten rest in a warm place will give the dough the most amazing texture.
6. Shape the bread and let it rest a second time. Pan aliñado is usually shaped into large or small loaves. When shaping them, you can also stuff them with your favorite shredded cheese. Cover the bread loaves and let them rest a second time in a warm place.
7. Season and bake. Brush the top of the loaves with some egg wash. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or your favorite seeds or seasoning. Bake until golden brown.

Tips For Making The Best Colombian Pan Aliñado

Make the bread loaves ahead of time. After shaping the bread loaves, cover them well and store them in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, let them rise a second time on the counter for about 1-2 hours before baking.

Freeze them! Instead of refrigerating the shaped bread loaves, freeze them on a baking sheet for about 45 minutes. Once they are partially frozen, you can place them in a large freezer bag. Let them rise on the counter for about 4-5 hours before baking.

Storage. Store baked pan aliñado in an airtight container. Then reheat it in the microwave for about 20-25 seconds before serving and it’ll taste just as when you took it out of the oven. You can also store the baked loaves in the freezer for up to three months and reheat them in the microwave for a few minutes. Unbaked pan aliñado can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer as stated in the first two options above.

Colombian Pan Aliñado Flavors

Cheese. Add different types of cheese to vary the flavor. Cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese are fantastic options.

Herbs. Sprinkling them with different herbs like oregano, basil, rosemary or garlic will elevate this pan aliñado to a whole new level.

Make them sweet. Brushing the tops of the baked loaves with whipped unsalted butter, mixed with either honey or maple syrup, gives them a sweet and buttery flavor!

¡Buen Provecho!

More bread recipes you can try

These are some ideas for making fantastic homemade bread at home.

• Colombian Pan Blandito (Soft Bread Rolls)
• Colombian Pan de Coco (Coconut Bread)
• Colombian Pan Mojicón (Sweet Bread)
• Basic White Sandwich Bread

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