Ube Bread Rolls

Step 1

In a medium sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the coconut milk and condensed milk and stir until heated. Add the grated ube (purple yam) and stir everything together. This process takes 40-50 minutes until the ube is cooked. The mixture will be thick and sticky. It is important to stir the mixture often during cooking to prevent it from forming a crust. Transfer the ube jam/ paste to a container and set aside.

Step 2

Combine heavy cream and milk in a microwavable bowl and heat in the microwave for 40 seconds at a time until the mixture reaches 115 F. In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the ingredients in the following order: Milk mixture, egg, sugar, flour,yeast and salt. Turn the mixer on low and stir the ingredients until the powders are moistened, Turn the mixer to medium speed and stir the mixture for 15 minutes. The dough should gather in the center of the bowl, and should be slapping the sides of the bowl while making some slapping sounds. This is the sign that your dough is ready.

Step 3

Gather the dough into a ball, place it in a bowl that is sprinkled with a little flour. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and set aside for about an hour to an hour and a half, until size is doubled. After proofing, return the dough to the bowl of stand mixer and knead again for 5 minutes using the dough hook. On a floured surface, divide the dough into two equal portions. Set aside one half portion for later use. Roll the other half into a large rectangle with about 1/4 inch thickness. Gently spread a thin layer of ube filling on top. With the long side of the rectangle facing you, roll the dough into a tight log. Cut into 16-18 pieces that are 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick and place in a single layer on a buttered 9 x 13 inch pan. Cover the rolls with kitchen towel and let rise for another hour.

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake the rolls for 15 minutes. The top should be lightly golden and a temperature should read 200 F. To make the glaze , stir 2 teaspoons of hot water and 3 teaspoons of sugar. Brush over the surface of the ube rolls. Store leftovers in a covered container and refrigerate. Warm in the microwave for 10-12 seconds to re-heat. The remaining ube can be used for the remaining half of dough. Or you can eat the ube as it is and just freeze the other half of the bread dough.