salteña

Saltenas

Almost every country in the world has a specific food that is special and unique because it originated there. In Bolivia, this food is called a saltena. Saltenas are more commonly seen in Bolivia then any other food even though they aren’t even considered a meal. Instead, saltenas are typically eaten as a mid-morning-brunch kind of snack. These tasty empanadas begin to sell around 7 a.m. and they are usually sold out around noon ( Salteñas ). They are so popular that they can now be found in other countries such as Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Chile, and even the United States ( Salteñas ). So what’s so special about these snacks anyways? Besides the fact that they are original Bolivian food, Saltenas are simply a tasty treat that can hold you over until the next meal. Since most of the population obsesses over these things, they must be pretty extraordinary, right? Actually, they are quite simple food. A saltena is a pastry filled with beef, pork, or chicken mixed with a range of sauces varying from sweet to extra spicy ( Salteñas ). In some instances, peas and potatoes can be added to the mixture. To the average American, this may seem like a regular old empanada or hot pocket. The difference is that “[saltenas] are baked not fried ( Salteñas ). The health of these treats is questionable, but as long as they are cheap and fast, they will continue to sell. Let’s just say that Bolivia is to saltenas as America is to Starbucks. As the Bolivian people rush around in the morning trying to snatch the last saltena, they are probably not concerned at all about the history of this little snack. In fact, few people probably even know where they came from or who invented them. Actually, the name “saltena” gives insight to its background. It all started in the early 1900’s with a woman named Juana Manuela Gorriti. Gorriti was born in Salta, Argentina where she supposedly came up the first recipe. The name “saltena” means “belonging to Salta” in Spanish ( Salteñas ). During the Juan Manuel de Rosas dictatorship, the Gorriti family was banned from Salta and found a home in Tarija, Bolivia ( Salteñas ). The family soon became very poor and began to sell Juana’s creation for a living. Saltenas soon became very popular, but no one knew that they would eventually grow to become one of the most prevalent foods in South America.

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