Paparajotes

Paparajotes are a typical dessert of Murcia, Spain[1] made with lemon leaves coated with a dough made with flour and egg that are fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon.

Paparajotes

History

They were introduced by the Arabs in Murcia and were made in peasant homes. The Murcians made it daily and took it after each meal, accompanying it with puchero coffee or café de olla, all cooked with firewood. Its main ingredients are: flour, egg, milk, and lemon leaves. Even today the origin of the name remains a mystery.[2]

Preparation

To make them, lemon leaves are taken from the local orchards to be used in the production of the dish. The leaves should be light green (young), and neither too soft or too hard. [3] Once a leaf is chosen, it is coated with dough and fried. Yeast is used in the dough to cause the dough to rise and coat the leaf. [3]

Consumption

Today, it is the typical dish of the spring festivities in Murcia (Bando de la Huerta) together with the fritters, dessert that is traditionally eaten on the day of San José and Matasuegras, some fried biscuits stuffed with pastry cream or chocolate. The leaf is not supposed to be eaten, it serves as a vessal for the dough to be eaten off of.[3]

Stalls

Both in the spring festivities and during the Feria de Septiembra de Murcia, many Murcians put up stalls, which provide food to festival attendees. These stalls are located in places assigned by the relevant town hall, and it is there that people can enjoy the paparajotes, one of the symbols and hallmark of the Region of Murcia.

Paparajotes totaneros

Totana paparajotes are not sweet, but salty. They are a mixture of mashed chickpeas (previously cooked with cod), eggs, cod, garlic and parsley. This mixture is then collected with a spoon and fried at the same time in a frying pan with the oil very hot. It is customary to cook them at Easter and add them to a stew made of chickpeas and potatoes.

References
  1. El paparajote se cuela entre las Siete Maravillas Gastronómicas. La Opinión de Murcia
  2. "Paparajote, dulce y también trastorno" (in Spanish). Murcia - La Verdad. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  3. "Murcianos Prank Tourists With Fried Lemon Leaves". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
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