In Argentina, they are very common quince pastries, which constitute a highly appreciated sweet, which is prepared with a flaky dough that is filled with quince and fried. While still hot, they are brushed with syrup and sprinkled with icing sugar. They are often accompanied with mate, coffee or tea at family gatherings on Sundays, probably often prepared by grandmothers.
The young people observe and thus the family details are passed from generation to generation for the corresponding elaboration of these cupcakes, which smell like family. They are also common with sweet potato filling, often seen with colorful sprinkles on top.
The simple dough for the tasty quince pastries It is mainly made with sugar, egg, butter, and flour. Sweet quince can already be purchased prepared, however, it can be made at home by boiling the quince fruits for a few minutes, then removing the water. They are then peeled, the seeds removed, cut and cooked with just water until covered and with an amount of sugar equal to the weight of the quinces.
They are then boiled and extinguished. The next day they are boiled again and so on until they take on the characteristic color. It is not necessary to add thickener because the consistency of quince candy is natural as a result of the abundant pectin that this fruit contains.
History of pastries stuffed with quince
The tasty pastries filled with quince are related in Argentina to the date of May 25, 1810, the first national celebration of the first government of Argentina, free of the Spanish conquerors. On the aforementioned date it is stated that some ladies sold their quince pastries carrying baskets full of them on their heads.
In each national celebration of each year, the scene is recreated in schools, dressing girls in costumes from the corresponding period, carrying their baskets of cupcakes.
For some, there is controversy between which pastry was prepared first, whether it was the sweet potato filling or the quince filling. The answer for many is obvious because the sweet potato was in Argentina when the quince arrived in its territory. Quince came to Argentina from the hands of the Spanish during the conquest. The origin of quince fruits is described below.
Quince is native to European countries located on the shores of the Caspian Sea. In ancient times in Greece. In ancient times it was associated with quince, properties that favored love and fertility, which is why it was part of the celebrations corresponding to weddings of that time. In Greece the quince trees, a tree whose fruit is the quince, were consecrated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite.
Recipe to make pastries stuffed with quince
Ingredients
500 grams of flour, oil, 250 milliliters of water, a pinch of salt, 400 grams of sugar, 300 grams of butter, half a kilo of quince.
Preparation
- Form a volcano with the flour and salt and add the chopped butter (150 grams) to its center. Knead until you obtain a dough with an earthy consistency.
- Water is added slowly, while continuing to knead to make the dough look smooth. Let it rest for approximately 20 min.
- At the end of the resting time, the dough is stretched with a rolling pin until it is approximately one centimeter thick. The entire top of the dough is spread with enough diluted butter, sprinkling a little flour on top and folded three times. The procedure is repeated, stretching the dough, spreading it with diluted butter, sprinkling it with flour and folding it three times. Let it rest and refrigerate it for approximately 30 minutes.
- After the indicated rest, the dough is stretched with a utensil until it obtains an approximate thickness of 3 mm. Squares of approximately 8 cm are cut.
- On one of the cutouts of dough, a piece of quince is added to its center, and it is covered with another cutout of dough, in such a way that the tips of the two cutouts of dough used take the shape similar to an 8-inch star. tips. Spread the dough with water to fix it together by pressing with your fingers.
- Finally, they are fried and sprinkled with icing sugar.
- Ready to taste quince pastries. Enjoy!
Tips for obtaining pastries filled with quince
The cupcakes in question can be baked in the oven and that way you can add ground cinnamon on top when baking them.
You can use the pastry dough and fill them with dulce de leche, sweet potato or any other sweet fruit such as strawberries, papaya, pineapple, guava.
In addition to accompanying the quince pastries with mate, coffee or tea, according to taste, it can also be accompanied with pieces of the cheese that you like the most. This results in a perfect contrast that the palate appreciates.
Did you know….?
- Quince provides the body with carbohydrates, which through natural processes the body converts into energy. They contain, among other elements, vitamin C, potassium and phosphorus, which each provide particular benefits to those who consume quince.
- The flour with which the quince pastries It provides the body with, among other elements, carbohydrates, which add energy to that provided by the quince.
- Butter is rich in vitamins E, A, D, K and contains the minerals: zinc, selenium, manganese, copper, iodine. Each of these mentioned vitamins and minerals provide their particular important benefits to the functioning of the body.
Consequently, butter is an antioxidant, improves vision, controls calcium and phosphorus metabolism, cares for bones, and protects against thyroid diseases.
Butter also provides healthy fatty acids such as omega-3 and arachidonic acid, which strengthen the immune system and help brain function.
