Fazuelos facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Fijuelas, deblas, orecchie di Ammon |
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| Type | Pastry |
| Main ingredients | Flour, eggs |
Fazuelos are a special kind of pastry. They are made from a very thin dough that is fried until it's crispy. You might also hear them called fijuelas, deblas, or orecchie di Ammon. These delicious treats are a traditional part of Sephardic Jewish cuisine.
What are Fazuelos?
Fazuelos are thin, fried pastries enjoyed by Sephardic Jewish communities. Sephardic Jews are Jewish people whose families originally came from the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal). These pastries are known for being light and crispy.
How are Fazuelos Made?
Making fazuelos starts with a simple dough. The main ingredients are flour and eggs. This dough is rolled out very thin, then cut into shapes. After that, the thin pieces of dough are fried until they are golden and crisp.
Sometimes, people add special ingredients to the dough. For example, Jewish communities in Turkey might add a little bit of brandy to their fazuelo dough. In Morocco, Jewish families often serve fazuelos with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a sweet syrup.
Fazuelos are similar to another pastry called Pestiños, which comes from the Andalusia region of Spain. However, Pestiños are usually eaten with honey, while fazuelos are often served with syrup.
When are Fazuelos Eaten?
In Sephardic tradition, fazuelos are a popular treat during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Purim is a joyful holiday that celebrates the saving of the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them in ancient Persia.
The Italian name for fazuelos, "orecchie di Ammon," means "Haman's ears." This name reminds people of Haman, who was the villain in the Purim story. Another Purim pastry, called hamantashen, also has a name that means "Haman's ears" in Hebrew.
