Bizcocho
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bizcocho (/bis'kotʃo/) is the name given in Uruguay to many variants of buttery flaky pastry and some cookies. Bizcochos have European origin, but have been developed and diversified in the Río de la Plata region –they are known as facturas in Argentina.
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[edit] Assorted bizcochos
Bizcochos can be sweet or savory, simple or covered with sugar or chocolate and also can have sweet (pastry cream, dulce de membrillo, dulce de leche, chocolate paste) or savory (cheese, ham or salami) fillings.
[edit] Most popular bizcochos
Some of the most popular bizcochos are:
- Cruasanes (/kɾua'sanes/) or Croissants: They can be sweet (cruasanes dulces, with sugar or chocolate on top) or salad (cruasanes salados, sometimes with cheese on top). Croissants can also be filled with pastry cream, dulce de membrillo (a sweet quince paste), dulce de leche for the sweet ones or cheese, ham or salami for the savory ones.
- Margaritas: They are a variation of croissants with the extremes put together, leaving some space in the middle for a filling (pastry cream, dulce de membrillo or dulce de leche). They have sugar on top of the pastry and the filling. Margaritas are always sweet and they got their name from the flower they resemble (a daisy, known in Spanish as "margarita").
- Vigilantes (/bixi'lantes/): Another sweet variation of croissants. They are long and thin, with sugar on top.
- Galletas dulces (/ga'ʃetas 'dulses/): This bizcocho was originated from a kind of bread known as galleta, galleta de campaña or galleta con grasa. Galletas dulces have a cover of caramel and sugar on top.
- Pan con grasa (plural unchanged): This is another kind of bizcocho originated from a type of bread (the cañón). Pan con grasa are the most popular savory bizcochos along with savory croissants.
- Ojitos (/o'xitos/): A kind of round cookie with a space in the middle filled with dulce de membrillo.
- Polvorones (/polβo'ɾones/): Another kind of cookie. They can be simple, contain cocoa (known as polvorones de chocolate) or mixed.
[edit] Medialunas
Although not exactly bizcochos, medialunas are a variation of croissants. They are big and can be salad or sweet (with caramel on top). They can be eaten as a sandwich filled with cheese, ham, salami or many other things.
[edit] Tradition
Bizcochos are one of the most intrinsic traditions of the Uruguayan culture. They are the inseparable "companions" of mate, coffee, café con leche or tea for breakfast or the merienda (afternoon tea.) They are also common in meetings with friends, espacially those taking place in parks, squares, beaches or along the coastline in ramblas (an avenue bordering the coast with pedestrian areas on each side) such as the ones in Montevideo.
Bizcochos are sold not only at panaderías (bakeries), but also at specialized shops called bizcocherías.
[edit] Other uses for the name
In Costa Rica, bizcochos are made with masa, with spices, and/or cheese. They are eaten as a snack, specially with during coffee breaks.
