Pastel

Brazilian pastel

Pastel is the name given to different typical dishes of many countries of Hispanic or Portuguese origin.

Pastel in Brazil

In Brazil, pastel is a typical fast food Brazilian dish, consisting of thin pastry envelopes wrapped around assorted fillings, then deep fried in vegetable oil. The result is a crispy, brownish pastry. The most common fillings are ground meat, mozzarella, heart of palm, catupiry cream cheese, chicken, and small shrimp. Pastels with sweet fillings, such as guava jam with Minas cheese, banana, and chocolate, are not so common. The pastel is classified in Brazilian cuisine as a salgado (salty snack). It is traditionally sold on the streets or in fast food shops known as pastelarias. It is popularly said to have originated when Japanese immigrants adapted Chinese fried wontons to sell as snacks at weekly street markets. Italian-Brazilians have said the Brazilian dishes pastel and fogazza originated from fried calzones. It is possible, however, that pastel originated from Indian samosas when the dish became part of the Portuguese cuisine.

Pastel in Portugal

A pastel in Portugal may refer to several types of desserts or hors d'œuvres popular in Portugal. These include the very famous pastel de bacalhau and the pastel de nata.

Pastel in Spain

Pastel is typically a Spanish word that means cake, but can refer to very different dishes, popular in other Hispanic countries.

Pastel in Puerto Rico

In Puerto Rico, pastel is a dish which includes diced pork with olives, capers, raisins, chickpeas, and sweet peppers. This mixture is centered in dough made mainly of green bananas with a small portion of plantain, yautía, and potato. The dough is tinted with annatto oil. It is wrapped in palm leaf, tied with string, boiled and later served with arroz con gandules (yellow-rice with pigeon peas).

Pastel in the Philippines

In the Philippines, pastel may refer to any (usually chicken or meat) casserole dish baked in a pie crust.

In the province of Camiguin, however, it refers specifically to pastel de Camiguín, a soft, sweet filled bun.

See also

• Pasteles
• Empanada

References

• http://www.celiac.com/articles/1161/1/Pastel-de-Tres-Leches-Gluten-Free/Page1.html
• http://www.whats4eats.com/recipes/r_st_pasteles.php

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