Fartura (food) facts for kids
.jpg)
A fartura is a delicious fried dough treat, a bit like a long, crispy doughnut. It's made from simple ingredients like flour, yeast, baking soda, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and water. After mixing, the dough is fried in hot oil until it's golden brown. You'll often find farturas sold at lively fairs and festivals in Portugal. They are best enjoyed warm, when their outside is perfectly crunchy!
Contents
Where Farturas Come From
The word 'fartura' has an interesting history. It comes from the Latin word 'farto,' which means 'full' or 'satisfied.' This makes sense, as a fartura can certainly make you feel full and happy!
Ideas About Their Origins
There are a few ideas about how farturas first came to be.
From Faraway Lands
One idea suggests that Portuguese traders, who traveled a lot in the Far East, learned new cooking methods there. They might have seen a Chinese fried dough called Youtiao. This dough was stretched or "pulled" into shape. However, the Chinese emperor made it a serious crime to share this secret technique with foreigners. So, the Portuguese couldn't learn the pulling method. Instead, they used a special star-shaped mold to give farturas their unique shape. This way, they could still make a similar fried dough.
Like Spanish Churros
Another idea is that farturas are a Portuguese version of churros from Spain. Churros were first made by shepherds. They needed food that was easy to prepare and cook over an open fire while they were out in the mountains. Churro dough was simple to make and fry, making it a perfect meal for their outdoor life.
Sweet Influence from Arab Culture
Farturas also show the influence of Arab cooking on Portuguese cuisine. Arab cooks often used sugar to sweeten their desserts, instead of just honey. The fartura might have developed from an original Arab sweet called zalabiya, which is also a type of fried dough.
See also
In Spanish: Fartura para niños
