Churro facts for kids
Churros
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| Alternative names | Tejeringos |
|---|---|
| Type | Fried dough |
| Course | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Flour |
Churros are a super popular fried snack. They are sometimes called Spanish doughnuts. These tasty treats are made from a special fried dough. You can find them in many places around the world. They are very popular in Latin America, France, Portugal, the United States, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands.
In Spain, there are two main kinds of churros. One type is long and thick, called a porra. The other kind is thinner and often has knots. This thin type is very popular in Madrid. People usually eat churros for breakfast. They also enjoy them as a sweet treat with hot chocolate or sugar.
Contents
Where Did Churros Come From?
The exact story of how churros began is not fully clear. There are a couple of interesting ideas about their origin.
From China to Europe
One idea is that churros came to Europe from China. Portuguese sailors might have brought them back. These sailors traveled to the Orient a long time ago. When they returned from Ming Dynasty China, they brought new cooking ideas. This new pastry soon traveled into Spain. In Spain, people changed how the dough was shaped. They started using a special tool to make the churros star-shaped.
Shepherds' Snack
Another idea is that Spanish shepherds created the churro. They needed food that was easy to make. Shepherds spent a lot of time in the mountains. They couldn't always get fresh bread from a bakery. Churro dough was simple to mix. It was also easy to fry over an open fire in the mountains. This made it a perfect snack for them.
How Churros Are Made
Churros are deep-fried until they become golden and crunchy. After frying, they are often sprinkled with sugar.
The Special Shape
The surface of a churro has cool ridges. This shape comes from a tool called a churrera. It's like a big syringe with a star-shaped nozzle. The dough is pushed through this nozzle. Churros can be straight, curled, or even twisted into spirals.
Where to Find Them
Just like pretzels, you can often buy churros from street vendors. These vendors might fry them right there on the street. This means you get them hot and fresh! In Spain and many parts of Latin America, cafes serve churros for breakfast. But you can also enjoy them as a snack any time of day.
Special shops called churrerías sell only churros. You might find them as a regular shop or a food trailer during holidays. In American theme parks and street fairs, churros are often rolled in cinnamon sugar. Sometimes they have other flavored sugars too.
What's in the Dough?
The basic churro dough is made from flour, water, and salt. It's a simple recipe! Some versions of churros are even made using potato dough.
Images for kids
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Making churros in Strasbourg
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Churros in Guatemala
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Churros with chocolate drizzled on top
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"Tejeringos" or "Calentitos", a type of churro from Andalusia
See also
In Spanish: Churro para niños
