An ''Hojuela'', meaning "flake" in Spanish, is a traditional
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
and
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
sweet baked-good. In Latin American countries, especially
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
, it is commonly made during
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
and the Christmas season. Ingredients vary by region, but usually consist of a flour-based batter fried in oil and dusted with sugar.
In Colombia
Hojuelas are commonly made during the Holiday season. They are generally eaten along with ''
manjar blanco
Manjar blanco (), also known as manjar de leche or simply manjar, is a term used in Spanish-speaking area of the world in reference to a variety of milk-based delicacies. In Spain the term refers to blancmange, a European delicacy found in vario ...
'', ''
natillas
() is a term in Spanish language, Spanish for a variety of custards and similar delicacies in the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, this term refers to a custard dish made with milk and eggs, similar to other European creams as . In Colombia, th ...
'', and ''
buñuelo
A ''buñuelo'' (; alternatively called ''boñuelo'', ''bimuelo'', ''birmuelo'', ''bermuelo'', ''bumuelo'', ''burmuelo'', or ''bonuelo''; ca, bunyol, ) is a fried dough fritter found in Spain, Latin America, and other regions with a historical co ...
s''. Hojuelas are usually made with wheat flour, eggs, water, and half a cup of orange juice or less. Strips of the batter are then fried with vegetable oil.
In Chile
In
Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, hojuelas derive from a traditional recipe using
palm syrup
Miel de palma (lit. palm honey, also palm syrup) is an edible sweet syrup produced from the sap of a number of palms. It is produced in the Canary Islands and coastal regions of South America.
Species
In the Canary Islands, palm syrup (''miel de ...
.
Spanish saying
"''Miel sobre hojuelas''" is a Spanish saying analogous to the English expression "Icing on the cake". Supposedly, the expression emerged when people added honey over hojuelas rather than sugar, and enjoyed the taste even more. It means something akin to making something good even better.
Alternatively, saying "''No todo es miel sobre hojuelas'', or "Not everything is honeyed hojuelas", means "It is not all fun and games".
References
{{reflist
Colombian cuisine
Desserts
Christmas food