Japanese Anpan – Sweet little bun

Japanese Anpan – Sweet little bun 

Japanese Anpan

Anpan (あんパン) is a Japanese sweet roll most commonly filled with red bean paste/adzuki beans. Anpan can also be prepared with other fillings, including white beans, sesame (goma-an) and chestnut (kuri-an). Pan means ‘bread’ in Japan, it’s one of the mostly popular snack for children and even adult as well.

I like this little roll, because it looks so cute and light, soft and spongy, and I made the fillings was not too sweet, but if anyone has sweet tooth, please feel free to adjust the sugar quantity.

The history about Anpan was quite interesting, you can read from here!

Japanese Anpan – Sweet little bun

Japanese Anpan with black sesame seeds paste

Ingredient:              

1.   300g bread flour
2.   4.5g instant dry yeast     ( if use active dry yeast, need to double the quantity )
3.   1 1/2 tsp salt
4.   30g of light olive oil
5.   150ml lukewarm water

Japanese Anpan with Black sesame seeds paste

Filling:

1.   200g Red bean paste
2.   100g Black sesame seeds paste

Method: 

• Sift the flour in a large mixing bowl, add salt on one side and instant yeast on the other side, and make a well in the middle, add salt and oil in and use a spatular to mix it until it turn into crumble like, gradually add the water into the flour a little bit at a time and mix, then try to add all the water into the flour and mix it, but save 20ml of the water, in case the dough will be too sticky.
• Knead the dough until smooth and elastic for about 10 to 15 minutes, cover with oiled cling film, and leave in a warm place to proof until double the size.
• Slightly punch down the dough to let the air out, divide it into 12 equal size little ball, roll on the table and cover with cling film or damp cloth and rest for about 10 minutes.
• Press down the bun and put the filling on the middle, wrap and seal the end, put the sealed side underneath on a lined baking tray, cover with cling film or damp cloth, let it proof for about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C/170°C(fan oven).
• Brush the roll with egg wash, sprinkle with pinch of black sesame seeds, and bake into the oven for about 15 to 17 minutes until it golden brown.
• Serve when it is still warm with a cup of coffee, Nice!