[Filipino Recipes] Vegan Ensaymada

Ok guys, if there’s any Filipino bread recipe that I wanted to share with you, it’s this super-soft ensaymada (ehn-sae-mah-dah) recipe. Ensaymada is a brioche bread, topped with a combination of sugar, butter, and grated cheese. I mean, who can resist a buttery sweet bread that’s so tender, light, and fluffy? Perfect for a sweet breakfast or an afternoon snack, and a cup of coffee or tea. Trust me, it’ll be hard to eat just one.

What is Ensaymada?

Ensaymada is a type of Filipino soft and sweet bread covered with butter and sugar and topped with lots of grated cheese. In the 16th century, when the Philippines was colonized by the Spanish, they brought all sorts of changes. Changes that heavily influenced the Filipino cuisine, such as ensaymada

The Filipino ensaymada is an adaptation of the Spanish ensaimada. What’s the difference? Traditional Spanish ensaimada uses pork lard in their dough, called saim. Hence the name ensaimada. While in the Philippines, the base of their dough was butter. Now, in this case, we are not using eggs or dairy to make this ensaymada, but instead I am using my vegan milk bread recipe. It’s the perfect base for this recipe because it’s just as soft, and fluffy as a brioche.

I wanted to make this recipe because, for one, I haven’t seen a completely vegan version of this bread. And two, I was honestly just craving it. Just like the pandesal (Filipino bread rolls), ensaymada are sold at every Filipino bakery. Whenever I would visit my grandma, she would always wake up earlier than us, and fetch us baked goods from the bakeries and serve it to us for breakfast. I remember the joy and excitement I would get when I would open up that brown bag full of baked goods. I will definitely miss those moments.

How To Shape Ensaymada

Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll the dough into a 14-inch rope. Take one end of the dough and start to coil it from the inside out. Leave a space in the middle, as they rise it will fill in the gap.

Tuck the end underneath and gently place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat for the rest.

Top tips:
Using my vegan milk bread recipe. It’s not a brioche, but it’s the best bread that will give you super fluffy results. Don’t worry, I’ll provide it in the recipe below
No need for molds. Ensaymada is known to have that classic scallop shape at the base. However, I don’t own those types of molds, and I know most of you won’t have those either. So, this will be a free form bread!
Don’t add too much flour. This dough is quite sticky, however, I don’t suggest adding too much flour as you shape these. They might get too tough. Instead, add a bit of oil to your hands.
Use a block of vegan cheese (if you can). Sometimes vegan cheese shreds are bit too thick and will not stick to the top. I prefer using a vegan cheese block, like the Chao Block from Field Roast, and grating it over the ensaymada. But if you can’t find those you obviously use what you have!

Vegan Filipino Ensaymada

Author: Floured Frame
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 8 ensaymada 1x
Diet: Vegan


Ok guys, if there’s any Filipino bread recipe that I wanted to share with you, it’s this super-soft ensaymada (ehn-sae-mah-dah) recipe. Ensaymada is a brioche bread, topped with a combination of sugar, butter, and grated cheese.

INGREDIENTS
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Tangzhong Roux:
¼ cup (30g) – bread flour
½ cup (120g) – non-dairy milk, I used soy

Main Ingredients:
1 ½ teaspoon – active dry yeast
⅔ cup (160g) – warm non-dairy milk, 100°F, I used soy
2 ⅓ cups (330g) – bread flour, leveled and sifted
1/2 cup (100g) – sugar
1 teaspoon – salt
3 tablespoons (42g) – vegan butter, cubed and softened at room temp

Vegan Wash/Glaze
1 tablespoon – agave or maple syrup
1 tablespoon – non-dairy milk

For Topping:
1 stick – vegan butter, softened for easy spreading (might not use all of it)
½ cup (100g) – sugar
Vegan cheese, I used Chao Cheese Block Creamy Original and grated it. Sub for any mild vegan cheese shreds you like.

Equipment:
Small saucepan
Heatproof silicone spatula/wooden spoon
Stand mixer with dough hook attachment
Measuring cups or food scale
Measuring spoons
Parchment paper
Baking sheet
Pastry brush
Medium bowl
Food grater

INSTRUCTIONS


Tangzhong Roux:

1. Starting out with a cold saucepan, combine the bread flour and non-dairy milk.
2. Once the mixture is fully incorporated, place the pan over medium heat. With a heatproof silicone spatula or wooden spoon, stir continuously. Keep stirring until the mixture has completely thickened and has become sticky.
3. Remove from heat and set aside to let it come to room temperature.

Dough:

1. Soften the butter. Remove butter from the fridge and allow it to soften at room temp for 30-45 minutes. You’ll know when the butter is soft when you are easily able to press down your finger on it.
2. In a measuring cup or bowl, combine the active dry yeast, and warm soy milk. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom. It should be frothy and bubbly at the top.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the bread flour, salt, and sugar. When the yeast is ready, add it along with the Tangzhong roux to the dry ingredients. Attach the bowl to the stand mixer, and with the dough hook attachment start mixing the dough at the lowest speed.
4. When it starts looking like a shaggy dough, add in the softened butter, 1 tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated. Then increase the speed to 2 and continue to knead for 10 minutes until you get a smooth dough.
5. Remove the dough from the bowl, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a smooth ball. Gather the ends of the dough to the middle, and pinch them together. Flip it over with the seam side down and use your hands to move it around in a circle. Tucking the dough underneath itself, pull their tops taut.
6. Place the shaped dough into a large lightly oiled bowl (or just use the same bowl). Cover with a damp cloth or plastic and set it in a warm spot. Allow it to rise for 1 – 2 hours or until doubled in size.
7. Meanwhile, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
8. When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down to release the gas, and transfer it to a work surface. Evenly divide the dough evenly into 8 pieces. If you are using a food scale, make sure they are equal in weight.
9. Working with one dough ball at a time, cover the rest with a damp cloth. Roll the piece of dough into a 14-inch rope. Take one end of the dough and start to coil it from the inside out. Leave a space in the middle, as they rise it will fill in the gap.
10. Tuck the end underneath and gently place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat for the rest. Leave 2 inches in between each piece of dough.
11. When you’re done forming and shaping the dough, cover the pan with a damp cloth and place it in a warm spot for 30 minutes to rise. While you wait, preheat the oven to 350°F.
12. In a small bowl, prepare the glaze. Combine the agave and non-dairy milk.
13. When the dough is ready, gently brush the glaze over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
14. Remove from the oven, and allow it to cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.

Finishing touches:

1. When the bread is fully cooled, spread the tops with softened butter and dip into a bowl of sugar. Making sure that the tops are well covered in sugar. Top it off with some grated cheese and serve immediately! Enjoy!

This recipe and image sources are referred in website: Flouredframe.com. Thanks so much!