The Churro ~

I love living in Barcelona; the great weather, amazing night life, wonderful beaches, great shopping, and of course the fantastic food. I am always running around the city looking for my next new favorite restaurant to taste test or newest food to obsess about. Whether I am out on the town trying a new sushi restaurant, filling up on tapas, trying to find a good burger, or sitting down to some spicy Mexican food I am never too full to enjoy one of my favorite desserts, the churro.

Churros are a sweet, sugary, deep-fried pastry that can be made either as a long golden brown breadstick or a pretzel like doughnut. While the churro is fried they should never be greasy. They are crunchy on the outside, but soft and warm on the inside. The churro can be gobbled up plain, rolled in cinnamon sugar, drizzled with warm chocolate, or loaded with fruit fillings.

I have tried every form of the churro but my favorite will always be the cinnamon sugar, as this is the style my mom always made for us when I was a child. The cinnamon covered churro still takes me back to the kitchen when I was a kid. The smell of the cinnamon and the dough frying on the stove reminds me of youthful innocence. The churro is an easy pastry to make as I have made it myself several times, however the true, mouth watering churro can only be delivered by a specialist called a Churrero. The art of making these deserts is passed down generation to generation.

History of the Churro ~

The churro is enjoyed around the world, however this delectable doughnut has its origins here in Spain. The churro was developed centuries ago by Spanish shepherds high in the mountains. Named after the churra sheep these Spanish herders watched over, this flavorful pastry was thought up as a simple treat to make while high up in the mountains away from the convenience of the kitchen. After they were fried the churro could be easily transported and did not spoil very quickly.

With the Spanish settlement of the Caribbean and South America, the churro made its way to the New World. As Latin Americans migrated north the churro soon reached the Land of the Free. With New World ideas comes New World churros. The original Spanish churro was thick and bread-shaped, but the Latin churro became thinner and star shaped thanks to the development of the dough-bag and the extruder.

The churro has become a favorite treat for people around the world, however it still remains a proud Spanish creation. Young and old enjoy this tasty treat any time of the day. Now that your sweet tooth is craving this mouth watering treat I will give you some easy instructions for making the churro.

How to Make A Churro ~

3 Eggs                      1/4 TableSpoon Salt      1 Cup Water

1 Cup Flour             1/2 Cup Butter                 Vegetable Oil

1. Heat the water, butter and salt in a saucepan on medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil then slowly stir in the flour.

2. Stir the mixture until it forms a ball and remove from the heat.

3. Beat the eggs well and stir them into the dough.

4. Place the dough into a plastic bag and seal it.

5. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan. It should be about 1 1/2 inches deep.

6. Cut the end corner of the plastic bag and squeeze out strips of batter into the frying pan.

7. Fry a couple of strips at a time, browning each side for a couple of minutes. They should be evenly golden brown.

8. Remove them from the grease and drain on a paper towel. Sprinkle the churros with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.

Barcelona Sweet Spots ~

If you’re not good in the kitchen or you are craving a churro on the go then check out a few Churreros here in Barcelona that will have you going back for more.

Xurreria is located in Gotico beside La Granja, a Barcelona renowned chocolate bistro at Nous 4. This iconic churreros serves only churros, various forms of it, and they are experts at what they do. An individual portion of churros is a euro. If the churro isn’t enough for your sweet tooth then head next door to La Granja with your churro in hand for some pleasurably thick melted chocolate. They will be happy to let you sit down with your churro as you guzzle down their savory chocolate with your cinnamon sugared doughy treat. Another great churro spot is named after the prized treat; Bar Churreria is a simple, small coffee shop that serves delectable sugary churros with your coffee. Bar Churreria is also located in Gotico at Via Laietana, 46.

These are only a few places I have checked out on my scenic trips home after the bars. Let me know if you guys have any other churro stands you enjoy to delight in.

If you enjoyed this blog take a look at some more delectable posts:

Churros Con Chocolate

Breakfast A La Ometlette

Cheers,

Brettsky

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• Churros Con Chocolate - Spanish Food at it's Best!