Description
The Mantecadas de Astorga PGI is a pastry made with wheat flour, eggs, butter, pork lard and sugar.
Production Area
Mantecadas de Astorga PGI pastries are produced in the municipalities of Astorga, Brazuelo, San Justo de la Vega and Valderrey, which are in the province of León in the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León.
Production Method
The pastry is made by whisking the eggs with the sugar and slowly adding the sieved flour. The butter is added last. The mixture is beaten until it is compact and homogenous. The pastry is divided into small portions and placed in paper cake cups. They are then dusted with sugar and baked in the oven at a temperature of 230°C for approximately 15 minutes.
Appearance and Flavour
Mantecadas de Astorga PGI pastries are round, weigh between 25 to 30 gr each and come in rectangular paper cups 5.5 cm long and 2 cm high with the sides folded and the corners are twisted. The pastry is 1.5 cm higher than the cup. The top surface is well cooked but not burned. The centre is yellow in colour, light and soft and it has numerous tiny and evenly distributed air bubbles. The flavour is very sweet, leaving a buttery and sweet taste in the mouth.
History
Mantecadas de Astorga PGI pastries are one of the best known and most traditional in Spain. There are many stories relating to this cake. The recipe, according to some, is attributed to Juan de la Mata, a court pastry cook of the 18th century. However, the first documents recording Mantecadas de Astorga PGI pastries date back to 1805. According to others, they were made by a nun in the Sancti Spiritus Convent of Astorga who, it is said, left the order and divulged the recipe.
Gastronomy
Mantecadas de Astorga PGI pastries must be stored in a cool dry place in their paper cups. They may be eaten as a dessert or as a snack. When they are eaten as a dessert, they go very well with a sparkling wine.
Marketing
This pastry is sold as Mantecadas de Astorga PGI. They are packed in wooden boxes or in plastic lined cardboard boxes.
Distinctive Features
What distinguishes the recipe for Mantecadas de Astorga PGI from other recipes for buns or biscuits is the use of pasteurised butter. Also the cajillas paper cups, in which these pastries are wrapped, which, today, are still hand-made by women called las cajilleras.
