 Pastechi | |
| Course | Breakfast, snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Aruba,Bonaire and Curaçao |
| Main ingredients | dough (flour, salt, sugar, water, butter, egg), filling (meat, fish, vegetables, or cheese) combined with onions, green peppers, celery stalks, raisins, cumin, nutmeg, and/or hot peppers |
| Variations | numerous |
Pastechi is a traditional breakfast or snack from Aruba but is founded throughout the ABC islands that is a crescent-shaped deep-fried dough with a filling. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is similar to an empanada, although empanadas often have a cornmeal crust whereas pastechis often have a plain pastry shell. [5] The dough tends to be slightly sweet. [6] The fillings can also be quite different. [5] The filling widely varies and can include meat, seafood, vegetables, or cheese. [1] [4] The filling can also be combined with other ingredients such as onions, peppers, celery stalks, raisins, cumin, and nutmeg. [1] Leftover meats, often roast chicken or pork, can be used for the recipe. [5]
The dish is found throughout Aruba, particularly at roadside snack-bars or bakeries. [1] [7] However, even some top-rated restaurants on the island serve the dish. [6] It can also be found in Curaçao and Bonaire. [7] The dish is often served at parties as well and tend to be smaller than the ones that are purchased with the party size approximately 10 centimeters in diameter. [7]
The pastechi reflects the diverse ethnic and culinary influences in Aruba, such as from Indonesia and the Netherlands. [2] [5] For instance, the dish can utilize sambal olek or Indonesian chili paste. [5]
