Sobao facts for kids
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Alternative names | Sobao pasiego |
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Place of origin | Spain |
Region or state | Valles Pasiegos |
Main ingredients | Sugar, butter, flour, eggs, salt, lemon zest, rum or anise liquor, dry yeast |
A Sobao or sobao pasiego is a yummy sweet treat from Spain. It's a type of cake or pastry that comes from a special area called the Valles Pasiegos. This region is in Cantabria, which is a part of northern Spain.
Sobao pasiego is so special that it has a Geographical indication since 2004. This means it's officially recognized as a unique food from that specific place. It's like a special badge that says, "This food comes from here and nowhere else!"
Contents
What is Sobao?
Sobao is a rich, buttery cake. It's known for its soft texture and sweet taste. People often enjoy it for breakfast or as a snack. It's a very popular dessert in its home region.
Early Sobao Recipes
The very first recipes for sobao were quite simple. They used basic bread dough, white sugar, and butter. Over time, the recipe got a little more fancy.
Older versions of sobao pasiego also included two eggs. They added lemon zest for a fresh, citrusy flavor. Sometimes, they even put in a bit of anise liquor or rum for an extra kick.
Modern Sobao Development
The sobao we know today came about in 1896. A clever cook named Eusebia Hernández Martín made a big change. She worked for a famous doctor, Enrique Diego-Madrazo.
Eusebia decided to swap out the bread dough. Instead, she used flour. This change made the sobao much lighter and more like a cake. Her new recipe became the standard for the modern sobao.
How to Make Sobao
Making sobao involves mixing several simple ingredients. The process is quite straightforward, but it needs careful steps.
Ingredients for Sobao
To make a batch of sobao, you'll need:
- One kilo of sugar
- One kilo of butter
- 900 grams of flour
- 12 eggs
- A tiny bit of salt
- Some lemon zest
- A spoonful of rum or anise liquor
- A little bit of dry yeast
Mixing the Dough
First, the butter and sugar are mixed together. This makes a creamy base. Then, the salt and lemon zest are added. Everything is stirred continuously.
Next, the eggs are added one by one. Each egg is mixed in well before the next one goes in. The spoonful of liquor is also added at this stage.
Finally, the flour and yeast are gently mixed in. All the ingredients are blended until the dough is smooth. Once everything is thoroughly mixed, the dough is ready to bake.
Baking the Sobao
The prepared dough is then placed into a special baking dish. After that, it's put into the oven to bake. The heat of the oven turns the soft dough into a delicious, golden-brown sobao.