Pastelitos de hoja facts for kids
Pastelitos de hoja
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| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Course | Appetizer, dinner |
| Place of origin | Currently: France, Israel, Sephardic Jewish diaspora; Originally: Jewish community of Al-Andalus, Morocco |
| Created by | Sephardic Jews |
| Main ingredients | Laminated dough/phyllo, margarine, or argan or olive oil, or cooking oil, ground beef, kosher salt, onions, garlic, turmeric, nutmeg, spices |
Pastelitos de hoja are a special kind of pastry from Sephardic Jewish cooking. These tasty treats first came from the Jewish community in Tetouan, a city in Morocco. They are enjoyed by Jewish communities around the world today.
Contents
What are Pastelitos de Hoja?
Pastelitos de hoja are small, savory pastries. The name means "little leaf pastries" in Spanish. They are made with a thin, flaky dough. Inside, they have a delicious meat filling.
The Dough: A Flaky Base
The dough for pastelitos de hoja is made from simple ingredients. These include eggs, flour, salt, and baking soda. A key ingredient is margarine. Margarine is used instead of butter. This makes the pastry pareve. Pareve means it contains neither meat nor dairy. This follows the rules of kashrut, which is Jewish dietary law. The dough is rolled out very thin. This helps create many light, flaky layers.
The Filling: Savory and Spiced
The filling for these pastries is usually made with ground beef. It also includes chopped onions and fresh parsley. Bay leaves are added for extra flavor. A mix of spices gives the filling its unique taste. Common spices are turmeric and ground nutmeg. These spices make the meat filling rich and aromatic.
How They are Made
Once the dough is ready, it is filled with the savory meat mixture. The pastry is then shaped, often into small pockets or rolls. Before baking, the tops are brushed with an egg wash. This gives them a beautiful golden-brown color and a slight shine. Finally, the pastelitos are baked until they are crispy and cooked through. They are often served as an Appetizer or part of a dinner.
