A jesuita (Uruguay) or fosforito (Argentina, lit. "matchstick") is a baked sandwich commonly eaten in parts of South America and considered a classic of Argentinian cuisine.[1][2][3][4] It consists of two pieces of puff pastry filled with thin slices of ham and cheese.[1][2]
 | |
| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Course | Appetizer, snack, or main |
| Region or state | South America |
| Associated cuisine | Argentine |
| Main ingredients | Ham, cheese, puff pastry |
| Ingredients generally used | Sugar, egg white |
Origins edit
The origins of the dish are European, brought to Argentina by colonizers.[3] Although long commonly available in Argentinian bakeries, their popularity had waned until an interest in home baking and professional interest among pastry chefs in traditional dishes resurged in 2020.[3]
Ingredients and preparation edit
The puff pastry is typically lightly glazed with a sugary egg-white mixture similar to royal icing.[1][2] Some recipes call for the sandwiches to be assembled with the pastry raw, brushed with the glaze, and baked until the puff pastry is browned and crispy and the cheese has melted.[2][3] Others call for baking the pastry separately and filling the baked sheets with ham and cheese.[3]
Serving edit
They are small in size and often served as a party food; they also can be served as an appetizer, snack, or meal.[2][3] They can be served hot or cold.[3] The flavor is both sweet and salty.[2][3]
Similarly-named dishes edit
A similarly-named sweet pastry known in Portugal, Spain and parts of South America, the jesuit, consists of puff pastry filled with custard.[5] In Germany, Jesuitermützen are a custard-filled pastry traditionally cut into triangles.[5] In France the pastry is filled with frangipane and called a jésuite.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "Jesuita". Real Academia Española. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Descubrí cómo preparar la receta de fosforitos de jamón y queso: una delicia argentina al alcance de todos". Voces Criticas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Reich, Rodolfo (2021-06-22). "Los fosforitos de siempre. Con jamón y queso viven un revival: ¿dónde probar los más ricos?". La Nacion (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ "Ham and cheese matches with a cake lid: an express recipe that is delicious". Crónica. 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b Arlucea, Ana Vega Pérez de (2018-04-19). "El misterioso origen de los jesuitas". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ^ Rinsky, Laura Halpin, The Pastry Chef's Companion, p. 149, Wiley 2009