Description
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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (236 ml) warm whole milk (about 100°F – 110°F or 37°C – 43°C)
- 2 tsp active dry yeast
- ¼ tsp white granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups (480 g) bread flour **See notes
- 3 tbsp white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp oil
- Shredded mozzarella cheese or 8 small pieces of frozen string cheese (Optional)
- 1 large egg beaten with 1 tbsp water
- Everything bagel seasoning or your favorite seasoning, to taste
Instructions
- Whisk the warm milk, dry active yeast, and ¼ tsp of sugar in a small cup. Let it sit for about 5-8 minutes so the yeast can activate. Once it is foamy on top, you can add the melted butter and stir.
- Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer. Add the yeast mixture and knead with the dough hook attachment for about 8-10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. You can also mix the dry ingredients with the yeast mixture in a large bowl. Then, knead the dough by hand on a lightly floured surface for about 8-10 minutes.
- Grease a large bowl with the oil. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to cover all sides with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rest in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.
- Once the dough has doubled in size, you can shape it into a log and divide it into 8 small pieces. Flatten each piece with a rolling pin until it is about 7-8 inches (17-20 cm) long. Sprinkle the inside of the dough with shredded mozzarella cheese to taste, if using, and roll the dough starting at the top to form a small loaf. Another option is placing a small piece of string cheese on the top edge of the dough, and rolling it down to form a small loaf. Place all shaped loaves on a greased baking sheet, loosely cover them with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel, and let them rest a second time for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until they grow in size.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Brush each loaf with the egg wash and sprinkle the tops with the Everything Bagel Seasoning or your favorite seasoning, to taste. Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Notes
- Even though bread flour will give the bread a much better texture, you can also use all-purpose flour. Use 3 cups or about 420 g.
- If while kneading the dough you notice that it is too dry, you can add a small amount of milk. If on the other hand, it is too wet, you can add a small amount of flour.
- You can also brush the top of the loaves with whole milk instead of the egg wash.
- After shaping the loaves, you can cover them tightly and store them in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, let them rise on the counter for about 1-2 hours before baking.
- You can freeze the shaped loaves on a baking sheet for about 45 minutes. And then place them in a freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them rise for about 4-5 hours on the counter before baking.