Cuajada facts for kids
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| Type | milk curd |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Main ingredients | Ewe's milk or cow's milk |
Cuajada is a special kind of milk curd. Think of it like a very soft, fresh cheese. Traditionally, it was made from ewe's milk. But today, most cuajada you find is made in factories using cow's milk.
This tasty treat is very popular in the northern parts of Spain. You can find it in places like Asturias, the Basque Country, Navarre, Aragon, Castile and Leon, and La Rioja. It's also a favorite in some Latin American countries. These include Colombia and Central American nations like El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
How Cuajada is Made
To make cuajada, warm milk is mixed with something called rennet. Rennet is a special ingredient that helps milk curdle, or thicken. Sometimes, plant extracts are used instead of rennet. After mixing, the milk is left to sit and curdle.
Long ago, cuajada was made in a wooden pot called a 'kaiku'. People would heat it using a red-hot poker. This old method gave the cuajada a unique, slightly smoky taste.
The word Cuajada means 'curdled' in the Spanish language. In the Basque language, this delicious curd is known as mamia.
How to Enjoy Cuajada
Cuajada is often served as a dessert. People usually enjoy it with sweet honey and crunchy walnuts. Sometimes, they just add a sprinkle of sugar.
Less often, it's eaten for breakfast with fruit or honey. In Colombia, cuajada is typically served with melado. This is a thick, sweet syrup made from panela, which is unrefined whole cane sugar. In Nicaragua, people usually add salt to their cuajada. They eat it with güirila (a type of corn tortilla) and other local dishes.
Coalhada: A Similar Treat
There's a similar dairy product called coalhada. This name also means 'curdled' in Portuguese. You'll find coalhada mostly in Brazil, especially in country areas. That's where traditional recipes are still very common.
Coalhada is made from curdled milk. To make it, acidic things like lemon juice, other citrus juices, or vinegar are added to boiled milk. This milk usually comes from cows or goats. Recipes for coalhada can be different, but they often include sugar or fruit juices to make it sweet.
See also
In Spanish: Cuajada para niños
