Speķrauši facts for kids
A box of speķrauši
|
|
| Alternative names | speķa rauši, speķa pīrāgi, speķa pīrādziņi, pīrāgi, pīrādziņi |
|---|---|
| Type | Pastry |
| Course | Snack, main, |
| Place of origin | Latvia |
| Main ingredients | Dough, onions and bacon. |
| Similar dishes | Pirozhki, samsa |
Speķrauši (say "spek-row-she") are super popular Latvian pastries. They are like small, tasty baked bread rolls. These treats are shaped like a crescent moon or an oval. Inside, they are filled with tiny pieces of bacon and onions.
These yummy pastries can be different sizes. They might be from 5 to 13 centimeters long. Smaller speķrauši are often seen as very fancy. They show that the cook is really skilled!
Many Latvian families have their own special recipe for speķrauši. But to be called speķrauši, they must have that crescent shape. Also, the filling absolutely has to be bacon bits. Making them takes a lot of effort. Because of this, people usually make them for special parties or holidays. They often make a huge batch! Even so, you can find them in most bakeries and pastry shops in Latvia.
What Kinds of Speķrauši Are There?
There are a few different kinds of speķrauši. The most common fillings are fatty bacon or a type of cured pork fat called speķis. Sometimes, people use mixtures of ground meats. This can include beef, ham, or chicken, often mixed with bacon. Other fillings might be fish, cabbage, or even cottage cheese.
There are two main types of speķrauši:
- Bread Bacon Pies: These are made with a special yeast dough. They can have many different fillings.
- Broth Bacon Pies: These are made with a flaky pastry dough. This dough often uses butter or sour cream. They are usually filled with cooked beef or fish. These pies are meant to be eaten with a warm cup of broth or soup.
How Are Speķrauši Made?
Making speķrauši is a bit of a process. It often starts the day before baking.
First, the cook prepares the meat and onions. Bacon and other fatty meats are chopped into tiny cubes by hand. This is because they don't chop well in a food processor. Sometimes, freezing the meat for a few minutes makes it easier to cut. Other meats, like beef, are usually ground up.
On the day of baking, the cook makes the dough. It's a type of white bread dough. The amount of fat in the dough can change based on the family's recipe. The dough needs time to rise, which takes several hours. While the dough rises, the meat filling is cooked slowly. This helps all the flavors mix together nicely.
Once the dough is ready, the cook shapes the individual pies. There are two common ways to do this:
- Method 1: The cook rolls out a large piece of dough. Then, they place a spoonful of filling near one edge. They fold the dough over the filling. Using a glass, they cut out a half-moon shape. The glass also presses the edges together. The pie is then shaped a bit more to make it oblong or crescent-shaped.
- Method 2: The cook takes a small piece of dough, about the size of a walnut. They flatten it into a round disk. A spoonful of filling goes in the middle. Then, they fold two sides of the dough together to make a half-moon. They pinch the edges to seal it. The edges are then folded under to make a nice oblong or crescent shape.
After shaping, the pies are placed on baking pans. They are left to rise a little more. Then, they are brushed with egg to make them golden. Finally, they are baked for a few minutes until they are perfect!
History and Fun Facts
Pīrāgi were always a popular dish in Latvia. This is because most ingredients were available all year round. Later, when potatoes came to Latvia, people sometimes used them in the dough. This meant they could still bake pies even if flour was hard to find. So, pīrāgi have always been a part of Latvian celebrations throughout the year.
The two biggest Latvian celebrations are for the summer and winter solstices. These are called Jāņi and Ziemassvētki (Christmas). There's even a famous Latvian Christmas folk song that talks about pīrāgi:
Ziemassvētki sabraukuši
Rakstītām kamanām
Pīrāgam nabagam
Abi gali apdeguši
This means:
Christmas arrived
In a decorated sleigh
Oh that poor bacon pie
Both ends were burnt
See also
In Spanish: Speķrauši para niños
