BUÑUELOS

What are buñuelos?

Buñuelos are a fried dough that can be sweet or savory, made with flour, water or milk, eggs, and yeast. They are a traditional food in many countries and are usually enjoyed during festivities or as a snack.
Their texture is fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, and they can be served alone or accompanied by honey, sugar, chocolate, or sauces.

Properties of buñuelos

• Source of energy: Due to their carbohydrate and fat content, they provide quick energy.
• Variety of ingredients: They can be enriched with cheese, vegetables, fruits, or spices.
• Versatility: They can be made with different types of flour, such as wheat, corn, or cassava.
•  Source of proteins: If they contain cheese, egg, or meat, they provide more proteins.
• The disadvantage is that they are fried, so their consumption should be moderate to avoid excess fats.

Varieties of buñuelos

There are many versions around the world, some of the most well-known are:

• Buñuelos de viento (Spain): Light and fluffy, can be filled with cream, chocolate, or whipped cream.
• Buñuelos de queso (Colombia and Venezuela): Made with grated cheese and corn or cassava flour.
• Mexican buñuelos: Thin fried dough sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, sometimes soaked in piloncillo syrup.
• Banana or apple buñuelos (Argentina): Made with fruit chunks in the dough.
• Bacalao buñuelos (Puerto Rico): Savory, with shredded cod in the dough.
• Zeppole (Italy): Similar to buñuelos de viento, sometimes filled with pastry cream.
• Gulab Jamun (India): Made with milk powder, fried, and soaked in syrup.

How to consume and prepare them?

Buñuelos can be eaten:

As dessert: Sprinkled with sugar, soaked in honey or chocolate.
In soups or stews: Some cultures use them in broths.
Stuffed: With cream, cheese, fruits, or chocolate.
Accompanying savory dishes: Like in bacalao buñuelos.
Basic recipe for buñuelos de viento

Ingredients:

1 cup of flour
1 cup of water or milk
50g of butter
3 eggs
1 tbsp of sugar
A pinch of salt
Oil for frying

Preparation:

In a pot, heat water, butter, sugar, and salt.
Add the flour and stir until a homogeneous dough forms.
Remove from heat and add the eggs one by one.
Form balls and fry.