Christmas, And A Few Tidbits About Uruguay

Jeff Green | Dec 18, 2013

Over the years we have looked briefly at Christmas traditions and foods from many countries that are familiar to many Canadians, including France, Italy, the Ukraine, and others.

This year we looked to South America, and settled on Uruguay, whose capital Montevideo is a city of 1.35 million located across the Rio de la Plata and northeast from Buenos Aires, the Capital of Argentina.

Uruguay has a lower profile than its neighbours Argentina and Chile, but like many others it is a soccer-mad nation, and was the host and winner of the first ever world cup in 1930.

Political strife dogged Uruguay throughout much of the 20th Century, but in recent years it has become renowned for the lifestyle of its current president, Jose Mujica, who is known as the poorest president in the world. When elected in 2009 he turned the presidential palace over to the poor and has lived in his own small farmhouse ever since. He was jailed for 10 years, including spending two years in solitary confinement at the bottom of a well in the 1970s for his Marxist-related activities. As president, he has taken what can be called a liberal pragmatic approach, and remains a popular leader at the age of 78. In recent days, Mujica has made headlines across the world when the Uruguayan senate passed a law to create a government-controlled marijuana market for local residents but not foreign tourists.

Picture postcards of snow-covered sleighs and Santa Claus don't fit that well in Uruguay. For one thing, snow is unheard of, and for another Christmas takes place at the beginning of summer. There is no school holiday for Christmas because it takes place during summer holidays. But some of the worldwide traditions find their own particular expression in Uruguay. The main Christmas meal is on Christmas Eve, and it is followed at midnight with large fireworks displays, which make it seem at times more similar to Canada Day than Christmas in Canada.

The story is that, also at midnight, Christmas presents are simultaneously delivered to all children in the country, and the tradition of fireworks arose partly as a diversion, to pull the children away from the house to clear the way for a clandestine delivery of toys.

Again, similar to Canada Day, the Christmas Eve meal is often a barbeque. However, in place of burgers and hot dogs, a Uruguayan barbeque pit or Asado can accommodate diverse cuts of meat, as well as sausages. Beef is the major Uruguayan export, and grilled beef is eaten often and in large amounts.

At Christmas, however, it is also common for a roast suckling pig to be prepared and served. While salads and grilled vegetables are served as well, vegetarians should not expect an easy time at a Uruguayan Christmas feast; unless, that is, they eat dairy and enjoy desserts, particularly desserts that make use of Dolce de Leche. Among popular Urugayan Christmas desserts are Alfajores, cookie sandwiches with Dolce de Leche filling, Mil Hojas de Manjar (Caramel Dulce de Leche Napoleans) and Budin de Banane con Corazon de Dolce de Leche (Banana pudding cake with a Dolce de Leche heart)

While many of the Christmas recipes in Uruguay are local versions of recipes that are commonly eaten in many neighbouring countries, Uruguay is famous for its Chivitos, served year round, but also at Christmas time. Chivitos are essentially steak-based sandwiches. Served on a large, soft bun, they can include a thin layer or two of steak, bacon, ham, egg, tomatoes and lettuce and a number of other toppings.

Dolce de Leche.

Ingredient

1 or 2 can condensed milk

Dolce de Leche is caramelized condensed milk. It can be made in the can itself, by punching holes in the top of the can and simmering it in a water bath on an electric stove for 3 to 4 hours. Alternatively the condensed milk can be poured into a sauce pan and cooked over medium low heat, stirring constantly until it turns creamy and brown. The easiest way is in a double boiler, where the condensed milk can be left cooking undisturbed for 60 to 90 minutes until it is brown. Ready-made Dolce de Leche is also available in grocery stores.

Alfajores

1 cup cornstarch 
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 
1 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1/4 tsp salt 
1/2 cup room temperature butter 
1/3 cup sugar 
2 egg yolks 
1/2 tsp vanilla extract 
15 oz Dolce de Leche 
flour for dusting

Sift together the first 5 ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and sugar in mixing bowl. Mix in the egg yolks and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and while mixing gradually add the corn starch, flour, salt, baking powder and soda and mix together until it holds together as a dough. (The above can be done by hand or with a mixer)

Turn the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, shape into a disk and wrap it tightly. Cool the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 350. Unwrap the dough and place on a floured work surface. Roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Dough may crack but can be easily patched back together. Cut out to 20 to 24 rounds with a 2 inch round cookie cutter, reshaping the dough as necessary until it is all gone. Place the dough on cookie sheets that have been lined with parchment or wax paper. Cook 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Spoon 1 tablespoon Dulce de Leche on one cookie and cover with a second to make a sandwich. Makes 10 -12 Alfajores

Banana pudding cake filled with Dolce de Leche

1/2 cup butter 
3/4 cup sugar 
2 eggs 
1 cup ripe Bananas 
scant cup all purpose flour 
1/2 tsp.Cinnamon 
1 tsp baking powder 
1 cup Dulce de Leche 
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and set aside. In a small bowl, mash the bananas. In a larger bowl, cream butter and sugar, and add eggs. Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mashed bananas and walnuts, Pour 1/2 the batter into a greased 9 inch loaf pan, pour Dolce de Leche on top and then pour the other 1/2 of the batter over the Dolce de Leche. Cook 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven.