Egg puffs and soup pearls facts for kids
Egg puffs and soup pearls are tiny, puffy pastries. They are popular in countries in the middle of Europe, like Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. These small pastries look a bit like chickpea seeds.
People usually add them to soups to make them more interesting. But you can also use them to decorate other foods, even desserts! Some people just like to eat them as a snack. The main difference is how they are made: egg puffs are baked in an oven, while soup pearls are cooked by deep-frying in hot oil.
What Are They Called?
These little pastries have different names depending on where you are!
Soup Pearls
In Germany, soup pearls are often called Backerbse. This name means "baked peas." They are also sometimes called Mehlerbse, which means "flour peas."
If you go to Switzerland, especially in areas where people speak Swiss German, they call them Suppenperle. This name directly translates to "soup pearls," which is where the English name comes from!
In the Vorarlberg region of western Austria, they have a special name: Hochzeitsperle. This means "wedding pearls." They were also once known as Hochzitbolla in Austria. Another common Austrian name for these small pastries is Bufferl. In a part of Germany called Upper Swabia, a similar name is Bopfrlâ.
Egg Puffs
The English name "egg puffs" comes from the German name Eierschöberl. In Poland, these tasty little bites are called groszek ptysiowy. This means "puff peas."
