pao Alentejano
{{Infobox food
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| image = Pan portugués en Isla Cristina (3).jpg
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| caption = Pao Alentejano with its characteristic hump
| alternate_name = Alentejo bread
| type = Bread
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| place_of_origin = Alentejo Region
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| associated_cuisine = Portuguese
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| main_ingredient = Wheat
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| serving_size = 100 g
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Pão Alentejano or Alentejo bread is a traditional wheat bread of Portugal's Alentejo region.
History
The bread was traditionally produced in homes, with local women taking their dough for baking in communal ovens, or by small bakeries.{{Cite web |last1=Loureiro |first1=Joana |last2=Oliveira |first2=Luisa |last3=Calheiros |first3=Sonia |date=2021-01-17 |title=Visão {{!}} Produtos portugueses que queremos (e devemos) preservar |url=https://visao.pt/atualidade/sociedade/2021-01-17-produtos-portugueses-que-queremos-e-devemos-preservar/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Visão |language=pt-PT}}
Alentejo is a historical major producer of wheat for Portugal (and previously for Rome, which introduced the crop to the area), and during the period of Arab colonization the bread became well-known throughout the country. In the 20th century industrial producers started to bread to sell under the name; these often do not use traditional recipes or techniques and contain additional ingredients such as preservatives.
According to Visao, the bread is "the basis of food in Alentejo". According to Hola, "all Portuguese recognize it as one of the best [breads] in the country".{{Cite web |date=2016-10-25 |title=Diez motivos para quedarte prendado del Alentejo |url=https://www.hola.com/viajes/2016102589262/diez-motivos-enamorarse-alentejo/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Hola |language=es}}
Ingredients and preparation
Traditionally the bread contains only wheat flour, yeast or leftover bread dough (which acts as a type of sourdough starter), salt, and water and is baked in a wood-fired oven.{{Cite web |title=Alentejo Bread - Arca del Gusto |url=https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/alentejo-bread/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=Slow Food Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Moreiras |first=Paulo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zJ0QBQAAQBAJ |title=Pão eamp; Vinho |date=2014-10-17 |publisher=Leya |isbn=978-972-20-5595-6 |pages=136 |language=pt-BR}}
Pão Alentejano is traditionally the bread used for Acorda Alentejana, a type of bread soup.
Description
File:Pan portugués en Isla Cristina (4).jpg
The bread is a pão de testa (bread with a forehead), a bread traditionally shaped by folding one end of the dough over the center so that when ready for the oven one side is higher than the other, and the bread develops a characteristic hump.{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Afonso |title=Jesucristo Bebia Cervesa |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/969383894 |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=WorldCat |page=219 |language=pt}} A typical loaf weighs {{Convert|1|kg|lb}} to {{Convert|1.5|kg|lb}}.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portuguese cuisine|state=expanded}}