Bolillo facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Pan francés (El Salvador) |
|---|---|
| Type | Bread |
| Place of origin |  Mexico |
| Region or state | Americas |
A bolillo or pan francés (which means "French bread") is a type of tasty bread. It is traditionally made in Mexico and also in Central America. It's like a shorter version of a baguette. Bolillos are often baked in a special stone oven.
This bread came to Mexico City in the 1860s. It was brought by the cooks of Emperor Maximilian. Soon, people all over the country started making and eating it.
A bolillo is usually about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. It has an oval shape. The outside has a crunchy crust. The inside, called migajón, is soft. Bolillos are the main ingredient for popular Mexican dishes. These include tortas (sandwiches) and molletes (open-faced sandwiches).
You might notice a slash on top of a bolillo. This cut is made with a special tool called a bread lame. It lets steam escape while the bread bakes. This helps the bread expand nicely without breaking its skin. A similar bread is the 'telera'. It is usually softer and sometimes a bit sweeter than a bolillo. Other bolillos can be made with different ingredients. These include whole wheat, wheat germ, or flax.
Different Names for Bolillo Bread
The bolillo is a type of baguette, so its name often reflects this. People in different places call it by different names.
- In Yucatán, they are known as barras.
- In Guadalajara and Sonora, they are called birotes. These are often made with sourdough.
- In northern Mexico, people call them both bolillos and pan blanco (white bread).
- In northeast Mexico, it is known as pan francés.
- In Sinaloa, they are called torcido and birote.
- In Central America, especially El Salvador, it is also known as pan francés.
- In Panama, a similar but longer bread is called flauta (flute). Pan francés there means the thinner, crustier French baguette.
- In Brazil, a similar bread is made. It is known as pão francês or pão de sal ("bread of salt").
- In the Philippines, another similar bread is called pan de sal (also "bread of salt").
See also
In Spanish: Bolillo (pan) para niños
