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The National Snack of Spain – Churros y Chocolate

This time of year all around America towns hold their harvest festivals, and then the states each hold a fair. American state fairs are a tradition that goes back to when our country was founded. It is an opportunity to share your best produce or Mama’s best cornbread and jalapeño jam recipe!  

Fried and Sugared Dough Dipped in Chocolate?

Nowadays this includes fair rides, all kinds of carnival games, and special fair foods! One of those foods is fried dough, called many things like Elephant Ears, Fry Bread, Funnel cakes, Doughboys, Scones, and in the Southwest….Churros!  Delicious!

Churros.

Needless to say, it’s something many young children look forward to every time they go to the fair, and I was no exception.

Of course, living in the Southwest where churros were more common, we’d heard these originated in Spain. So, what’s high on my list as I head to the Iberian Peninsula, yep…churros! The first time we visited, we found a booth alongside the road and it had a line 30 people deep. What a road trip snack!  We bought up a few servings and on we went.

Trying to replicate our experience, we were in southern Spain and stopped by a churros shop. We watched as the man filled his machine with churro batter, whirred it up, and pulled the lever. Out comes perfectly-ridged churros which he proceeded to cut with a knife right into the boiling oil.

Frying the churros to a beautiful golden brown.

After only a short two minutes, he scoops out perfectly browned churros into a flat bucket which he hands over to his wife. She weighs them and puts them into a cone for easy access and carry out.

The churros Vendor packages up our tasty churros.

At one small city, we were renting an apartment across from a churro shop. It was great for two reasons. Hello! Easy access! And also, because sitting on our balcony, we watched the housewives, working men, young teens, abuelos, everyone stop by for a serving or two. We couldn’t believe how many people came to pick up some churros mostly in the morning or later afternoon. We don’t know for sure, but we suspect they had some hot chocolate waiting at home for the perfect dipping.

Churros y Chocolate in an outdoor cafe in Llanes.

At that time, we didn’t know that oftentimes the Spanish like to eat their churros dipped in a rich hot chocolate. However, no matter where you go in Spain today, there are so many opportunities to try churros y chocolate that you cannot possibly not try it this way.

Even though in Spain, churros are eaten every day of the year, I like mine when it’s a little chillier outside. We had the most scrumptious breakfast of churros y chocolate in the northern city of Llanes. It was a misty rain outside blowing off the Atlantic and that hot, thick chocolate with some sugar-y goodness just made it so cozy. Yum, yum, yum.

Have you ever had churros y chocolate?  What did you think?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Mark and Kate

Monday 29th of September 2014

Churros and chocolate...People wonder why we so love Spain.

Corinne Vail

Tuesday 30th of September 2014

Mark and Kate...So, so many reasons!

Christa

Thursday 25th of September 2014

Hi it's Christa, host of the Sunday Traveler, I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for joining in on the fun! I've never had churros with chocolate but I'm pretty sure I'd love it, who wouldn't! Another excuse to travel to Spain!

Corinne Vail

Friday 26th of September 2014

Christa, Exactly! Thanks for stopping by!

Sammi Wanderlustin'

Thursday 25th of September 2014

Love, love, love churros. Mostly a breakfast food, tho' definitely had those a few times after the Bull Runs in Spain this summer ;)

Corinne Vail

Friday 26th of September 2014

Sammi, Let's face it...who's going to turn down sugary fried dough...anytime?

Jess

Wednesday 24th of September 2014

I've never been more sorry I wasn't in Spain. It's fried dough season here, but suddenly that doesn't seem good enough!

Corinne Vail

Thursday 25th of September 2014

Jess, Yes, the Alaskan State Fair and their Elephant Ears...not quite the same, but hey...look at your pumpkins and squash!

jan

Tuesday 23rd of September 2014

Makes sense to have your own favourite dipping sauce at home and get the pesky batter and frying thing done for you :)

Corinne Vail

Tuesday 23rd of September 2014

Jan, I agree! The frying is the messy part!