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Curaçao pastechi
Cheese turnovers
Pastechi: crisp fried turnovers filled with Gouda cheese
In Curaçao and Aruba, a paper bag of hot pastechi from a snack truck is breakfast on the way to work or a mid-morning bite with coffee: crisp, blistered half-moons of pastry filled with melted aged Gouda, a legacy of the Dutch on the islands. Other versions hold spiced beef, chicken or tuna; this one is vegetarian. Traditional Gouda is made with animal rennet, so choose a Gouda or other firm cheese labelled vegetarian if that matters to you. The usual mistake is frying too cool, so the pastry soaks up oil instead of blistering. Chef's tip: chill the filled pastechi for 15 minutes before frying so the seams hold.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the dough
- 12 ½ oz plain flourplus extra for rolling
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 ⅛ oz cold buttercubed (or shortening)
- ¾ cup cold waterabout
For the filling
- 9 oz aged Goudagrated (vegetarian if needed)
- ½ onion (optional)very finely chopped
To fry
- 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 12 ½ oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt. Rub in 2 ⅛ oz cold butter until crumbly, then add ¾ cup cold water a little at a time to make a smooth, firm dough. Knead briefly, wrap and rest for 20 minutes.
25 minStep 2: Mix 9 oz aged Gouda with ½ onion if using.
Step 3: Roll the dough on a floured surface to 2 mm thick and cut out 12 cm rounds. Re-roll the trimmings.
10 minStep 4: Put a heaped tablespoon of cheese on one half of each round. Brush the edge with water, fold over and seal firmly with a fork. Chill for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 5: Heat 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F, or until a cube of bread browns in 30 seconds.
Step 6: Fry 3 or 4 pastechi at a time for 3–4 minutes, turning, until deep golden and blistered and the cheese has melted inside. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does curaçao pastechi take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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