Vol-au-vent facts for kids
Vol-au-vent
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| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | France |
| Region or state | Paris |
| Created by | Antonin Carême |
| Main ingredients | Puff pastry |
A vol-au-vent (say it: voh-loh-vahn) is a light, hollow pastry case. The name means "windblown" in French, because it's so airy! People used to call it a patty case too. It's made from puff pastry, which is a special dough that puffs up when baked.
Vol-au-vents are usually made by cutting two circles from rolled-out puff pastry. You cut a hole in the middle of one circle. Then, you stack this ring-shaped piece on top of the solid circle. The pastry is baked until it's golden and puffy. After baking, you can fill it with many different tasty things. These can be savory, like chicken or fish, or sweet, like fruit.
A famous chef named Antonin Carême is often given credit for creating the vol-au-vent. However, a similar pastry was mentioned in a cookbook from 1739. This was years before Carême was even born! So, the exact inventor is a bit of a mystery.
In France, where it comes from, the vol-au-vent is often served as a small snack or a starter before a meal. It's commonly filled with chicken or fish.
Contents
Vol-au-vent Around the World
This light pastry is enjoyed in different ways in many countries.
Belgian and Dutch Pastries
In Belgium, the vol-au-vent is a very popular main dish. You can find it on the menu of most restaurants. It's almost always filled with a mix of chicken, mushrooms, and small meatballs. People usually eat it with mashed potatoes or french fries.
This Belgian version is also popular in the southern part of the Netherlands. There, it is called pasteitje, which means "little pastry."
American and Pakistani Fillings
In American cuisine, a creamy chicken dish called chicken à la King used to be a very popular filling for vol-au-vents.
In Pakistan, vol-au-vents with meat fillings are known as "patties." The round ones usually have a chicken filling, while the rectangular ones are filled with beef. They are often served with chutney, a flavorful sauce.
See Also
In Spanish: Volován para niños
