Encharcada is a traditional Portuguese conventual sweet of egg yolks boiled in sugar syrup and then broiled.[6]

Encharcada
Encharcada
Alternative namesEncharcada de ovos;[1] Encharcada de fios de ovos;[2] Encharcada Alentejana;[3] Encharcada de Évora;[4] Encharcada conventual[5]
TypeConventual sweet
Pudding
CourseSobremesa
Place of originPortugal
Region or stateÉvora, Alentejo
Main ingredientsEgg yolks, sugar, water
Ingredients generally usedCinnamon, lemon zest
Similar dishesFios de ovos, Doces de ovos

History

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Like many other conventual sweets that developed in the 15th century, encharcada contains a substantial amount of egg yolks and sugar.[7] It is believed that the dish was created in the Convento de Santa Clara in Évora, Alentejo.[8] The dish is named after the method in which the eggs are cooked, encharcado, lit.'to soak'―drenched, in hot sugar syrup.[9]

Doces de ovos and fios de ovos are similar conventual sweets made with the similar ingredients. Doces de ovos is cooked at a lower temperature in order to prevent curdling of the eggs.[10] Fios de ovos is drizzled into fine threads and drained before using it in other desserts.[11]

Preparation

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To prepare encharcada, nine egg yolks are separated from its whites. Two whole eggs are whisked with the egg yolks and then strained through a sieve. A cup of water is boiled. To it, two cups of sugar are added with lemon peel.[12] When the sugar syrup reaches 225°F (107°C),[13] the lemon peel is removed, and the egg yolk mixture is slowly drizzled into the syrup.[14] The curds are cooked for about 15 minutes, then drained into a dish, and sprinkled with ground cinnamon.[15] Optionally, the top is caramelized with a blowtorch or by broiling.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Santos, Michael. "Encharcada de Ovos (Portuguese soaked eggs from Évora)". Just Cook with Michael. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Encharcada de Fios de Ovos". Vai Se Food, por Ailin Aleixo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 March 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Encharcada Alentejana (Convento de Santa Clara -Évora) - Receita". SAPO Lifestyle (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Deliciosa Encharcada de Évora". Teleculinaria (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Encharcada conventual". Sobremesas de Portugal (in European Portuguese). 21 July 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ Anderson, Jean (21 October 2013). "The Food I Dream Of". Saveur. Another Little Whisk LLC. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  7. ^ Tavares, Inês. "Encharcada: A Delightful Conventual Sweet from Alentejo". www.lisbon.vip. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  8. ^ Anderson, Jean (6 November 2013). "Heavenly Sweets". Saveur. Another Little Whisk LLC. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. ^ "The best Portuguese desserts (and where to try them in Lisbon)". Taste of Lisboa Food Tours. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  10. ^ Pimenta, Nana-Manga (22 July 2015). "Doce de Ovos | Ovos Moles - Receita Portuguesa". Manga com Pimenta (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  11. ^ Via, Primeira (18 December 2019). "Fios de ovos: opte pela proteína com bem-estar animal na ceia de Natal". Certified Humane Brasil | Bem-estar animal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  12. ^ Abilio, Conceição (20 October 2013). "Encharcada (Convent Egg Sweet)". Saveur. Another Little Whisk LLC. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  13. ^ Lucas, Luís (1 April 2018). "A minha Encharcada de Ovos, encharcada de açúcar". Grafe e Faca (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Encharcada". Pingo Doce (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Doce Conventual: Encharcada com Doce de Ovos". www.mercadona.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Encharcada de fios de ovos". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 November 2023.