Pasteles (Bolivian Fried Cheese Pastries with Sugar)
In short: Crisp, puffy half-moon pastries filled with fresh white cheese, fried until golden and dusted with powdered sugar, served with a hot drink. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 470 kcal
Pasteles are fried cheese turnovers, sold hot from stalls and often eaten for breakfast or an afternoon break. A simple dough is rolled thin, filled with fresh white cheese, folded into half-moons and fried until puffed and blistered. A shower of powdered sugar over the hot pastry plays against the salty cheese inside. The classic pairing is a mug of hot api, and strong coffee works well too.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until it looks like coarse crumbs.
- Beat the egg with the cold water, add it to the bowl and knead for 3 to 4 minutes into a smooth dough, adding a teaspoon of water if it is dry. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 2 mm (1/12 in) thick. Cut out twelve 12 cm (5 in) circles, re-rolling the scraps once.
- Put about 2 tablespoons of cheese in the center of each circle. Brush the edge with water, fold into a half-moon and press the edges firmly with a fork to seal.
- Heat 5 cm (2 in) of oil to 180°C (350°F). Fry 3 or 4 pasteles at a time for about 2 minutes per side, spooning hot oil over the tops, until puffed and golden brown.
- Drain on paper towels, dust generously with powdered sugar and serve warm.
Tips
- Seal the edges firmly and keep the cheese away from the rim, or it will leak into the oil. Keep the oil at 180°C (350°F), since cooler oil makes greasy pasteles.
- Unfried pasteles freeze on a tray for 2 months and can be fried straight from frozen at 170°C (340°F) for about 4 minutes.
Questions and answers
What cheese is used in Bolivian pasteles?
A fresh, lightly salted white cheese that melts softly, such as queso criollo. Queso fresco or low-moisture mozzarella are good substitutes.
Why are they dusted with sugar?
The sweet dusting contrasts with the salty cheese filling, a pairing found in much Bolivian snacking. You can skip the sugar for a purely savory pastry.
Can I bake pasteles instead of frying?
Yes. Brush with beaten egg and bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden. They will be less puffy and crisp than fried ones.
How long does it take to make Pasteles (Bolivian Fried Cheese Pastries with Sugar)?
About 1 h in total: 40 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pasteles (Bolivian Fried Cheese Pastries with Sugar)?
About 470 kcal per serving, with 14 g of protein, 47 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 470 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
