Velhote is a typical dessert of the parish of
Valadares,
Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. Velhotes are a kind of sweet bread with sugar and cinnamon. They are typically served on Saturdays and by the time of
Sr. dos Aflitos, Valadares' most important religious feast.
Velhotes were baked for the first time in the 1880s by Maria Francisca da Silva, a "Braguesa" (a lady who came from
Braga) and soon became popular. Only a little of the velhote's history is known, but the legend says that when king
Carlos I Carlos I may refer to:
*Carlos I of Spain (1500–1558), also Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire
*Carlos I of Portugal (1863–1908), King of Portugal
*Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I (;,
* ca, Joan Carles I,
* gl, Xoán Carlos I, ...
and Queen
Amélie of Orleans
''Amélie'' (also known as ''Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain''; ; en, The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain, italic=yes) is a 2001 French-language romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Written by Jeunet with Guillaume La ...
came to Porto, they ate velhotes.
Recipe
The original recipe included flour, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, lemon juice, yeast and
saffron
Saffron () is a spice derived from the flower of ''Crocus sativus'', commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent i ...
, but the way of baking this sweet bread has changed a lot since the 19th century.
Confraria dos Velhotes
There is a "confraria gastronómica" (gastronomic brotherhood) in Valadares (
Confraria Gastronómica do Velhote) which intends to dignify and spread the existence of the velhote as a typical sweet.
External links
Website of Confraria Gastronómica do Velhote (in Portuguese)Tale about Velhotes' origins (in Portuguese)
Sweet breads
Yeast breads
Valadares (Vila Nova de Gaia)
Portuguese desserts
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