What You Need to Know
Pastel is the Spanish and Portuguese word for pastry, a sugary food, and is the name given to different typical dishes of various countries where those languages are spoken. In Mexico, pastel typically means cake, as with pastel de tres leches. However, in different Latin American countries pastel can refer to very different sugary dishes, and even to non-sugary ones as well. In some places, like Brazil, the word can refer to both a sugary and non-sugary food, depending on the filling used.
Key Parameters
Equipment
rolling pinpastry brushbaking sheetsoven
Steps
- 1.
Pastel de Nata (Portugal): Custard-filled pastry with caramelized top
- 2.
Pastel de Tres Leches (Mexico): Sponge cake soaked in three types of milk
- 3.
Pastel de Choclo (Chile): Corn-based pastry with savory filling
The Science
Primary Reaction
Starch gelatinization