A Fried Christmastime Treat: Bunuelos
I love the look of Bunuelos -- the treat is so enticing with their perfectly round shape. They are a Christmastime favorite in Columbia, where the fried yeast balls are stuffed with a white salty cheese and are more savory than sweet. The dish is traditionally served with natilla, a custard-like dessert that is very similar to flan, and with 'manjar blanco' for a Christmas trifecta.
Columbian Natilla (the ‘s’ gets dropped in Columbia) differs from the natilla in other countries since they don’t use eggs. This dish gets served chilled and is the perfect accompaniment to a crunchy, salty bunuelo.
'Manjar blanco' completes the trio of perfection. It’s a milk based pudding made out of rice, milk and sugar. All three are best served together and really represent the holiday season in Columbia. There are many different recipes for each dish and they vary from family to family. I know you’re going to love it!
- Sabor Colombiano
- La Nueva Bakery (serves everything but Natilla)
- Miracali Bakery
- Las Americas Bakery
Eden Grinshpan graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in London with the “Grande Diplome” in both Pastry and Cuisine. After graduating she went to India to volunteer with different organizations, one of them being an orphanage called Ramanas Garden. Here she came up with the idea of raising money for the orphanage by re-opening a café, which had not been in operation for some time, and teaching the children the basics of culinary cuisine. After returning to New York City, Eden enrolled in a management program at The Institute of Culinary Education before working at the bakery, Babycakes. Eden is the co-owner of EthNicitY Productions, and hosts Eden Eats, a traveling show to find global cuisine in cities across the US. Check out Eden’s blog, Eden Eats, and follow Eden on Facebook and @EdenEats on Twitter.
