Panipopo is a type of Samoan bread soaked in sweet coconut sauce. Popo means coconut in Samoan, and pani means buns. In the pan, it looks like a regular dinner roll, but remove the pieces to reveal the layer of coconut sauce. The panipopo are served upside down, sauce side up, with extra sauce from the pan drizzled over the top. Store the leftovers in the refrigerator. The buns continue to soak up the sauce the longer they are stored.
The Samoan Islands lie in the South Pacific, halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. There are nine islands, with the first four inhabited: Savai’i, Upolu, Manono, Apolima, Fanuatapu, Namu’a, Nuulua, and Nuusafee. It is a fairly new country. The Europeans first found Samoa in the 1700s and it was fought over during the 1800s by the British, Germans, and Americans. In 1899, the United States took over American (Eastern) Samoa and Germany seized control of Western Samoa. New Zealand took control from Germany in 1914 until independence in 1962. In 1997, the name was officially changed to Samoa.
More information about the history of Samoa.
Information about the food culture of Samoa.
Ingredients
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees Fahrenheit)
2 1/2-3 cups all purpose or bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut milk
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup sugar
In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over warm water and stir together. let sit until frothy, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl or the bowl of a large food processor fitted with a dough blade, combine 2 1/2 cups flour, sugar, and salt. Mix in frothy yeast, water, egg, and vegetable oil. Add remaining 1/2 cup flour, as needed, to form a soft and slightly sticky dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. Place in lightly greased large bowl, turning to coat. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 1-1 1/2 hours.
Place dough on lightly floured surface. The buns can be shaped two ways. The easiest way is to divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball. The dough can also be rolled into a long rectangle, then rolled up end to end. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces. place the pieces into an ungreased rectangle, square, or circle baking pan with deep sides. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
While the buns are rising, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a small bowl, whisk together coconut milk, water, and sugar.
Pour the coconut sauce over the buns and bake in preheated oven until tops are golden brown and coconut sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes.
Let cool in pan at least 30 minutes before serving.
Adapted from Samoa Food
Tagged: asian, bread, bun, coconut, island, pani, popo, samoa, sweet
