Cuban pastry facts for kids
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| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Cuba |
| Main ingredients | Puff pastry, sweet or savoury filling |
Cuban pastries are yummy baked treats from Cuba. In Spanish, they are called pasteles or pastelitos. These pastries are made with a light, flaky dough, similar to puff pastry. They can have either sweet or savory fillings inside.
Some popular sweet fillings include creamy cream cheese, sweet guava (which is a fruit), juicy pineapple, and tropical coconut. These sweet fillings are often made from sweetened fruit purees. The cream cheese filling is a bit sweet too, tasting a bit like cheesecake. For savory options, you might find fillings with seasoned beef. Sometimes, they also use chicken or a mix of ham and cheese. The beef filling is usually made with a mild, not spicy, tomato-based sauce. It often includes raisins and green olives. Even savory pastries often have a sweet glaze on top!
Contents
What are Cuban Pastries?
Cuban pastries are a type of pastry that comes from Cuba. They are made from a special kind of dough called puff pastry. This dough is very light and flaky when it's baked. Imagine many thin layers of dough that puff up in the oven. This makes the pastry crispy on the outside and soft inside.
Delicious Fillings
Cuban pastries are famous for their many different fillings. These fillings can be sweet or savory.
Sweet Treats
- Guava: One of the most popular sweet fillings is guava. It's a sweet, thick paste made from the guava fruit.
- Cream Cheese: Another favorite is a sweet cream cheese filling. It tastes a bit like a mild cheesecake.
- Pineapple: Some pastries are filled with sweet pineapple jam or pieces.
- Coconut: You can also find pastries with a sweet, shredded coconut filling.
Savory Surprises
- Beef: A common savory filling is seasoned ground beef. It's cooked in a mild sauce made with tomatoes. This beef filling often has raisins and green olives mixed in.
- Chicken: Sometimes, you might find pastries filled with tasty chicken.
- Ham and Cheese: Another savory option is a simple but delicious mix of ham and cheese.
When to Enjoy Them
People in Cuba and places with Cuban communities, like Miami, often eat these pastries as a snack. You can enjoy them any time of day! Many small cafes, called "window cafeterias," in Miami sell pastelitos with coffee. It's a popular way to start the day or have a quick bite.
Where to Find Them
You can find Cuban pastries in many cafes and bakeries that serve Hispanic food. Big food companies, like Goya Foods, have also started selling them in regular stores. You can even find them sold in bulk to restaurants and other food businesses.
See also
- Empanadilla
- Haitian patty
- Pasteles
- Quesito
