Page 19 - AHATA

a8 local
Wednesday 12 March 2025

Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our “Dorado”

(Oranjestad)—If you’re terested by giving shrimp or
ever planning on snorkel- squid.
ing during your vacation on
Aruba, you may spot fish Description:
that you can’t recognize. Dorado has a distinctive
One of these may be the body. It has a large tail and
“Dorado”, a common fish its long, flat body ends in a
that swims all year long in large blunt head. Its color
the waters of Aruba. Here’s of yellow and green or blue
some information about the makes it immediately rec-
beloved Dorado. ognizable, even with small
variations in these colors.
Dorado has many differ-
ent names it can be re- Dorado has clear differenc-
ferred to. Dral, Dorao, Drals, es between adult females
Drado, are some of them and males. The male is
in Papiamento. In English, larger and can easily reach
it is also called Mahi Mahi, 50 to 80 pounds and has
Dolphinfish, or Dorado. a much flatter head com-
It's a good example to re- yellow color that the fish among fishermen as an ex- within 1 year but many be- pared to the female. There-
flect on why there can be shines with under the sun. citing catch and a fish that come reproductive after fore, male Dorados are also
many names. The same Why it's called Dolphinfish puts up a good fight. Its just 5 or 6 months and re- called "bull Dorado".
fish becomes known by in English is not well defined meat is very good for con- produce very quickly too.
different common names, and while there are several sumption and it is also com- They live in open water on Dorado can be found in our
why? Common names stories around this, none mercially fished for that the surface most of the waters around the island all
come only when a group have been confirmed. reason. time. Many fish seek them year round, but there are
of people, to understand around sushi lines or float- periods when it is easier to
each other, assign a name Dorado is found in all tropi- They grow very fast, up to ing objects on the sea. Of- find than others. q
to a fish. Mahi Mahi, for ex- cal to subtropical oceans 2.7 inches (almost 7 cm) ten you will find a group
ample, comes from Hawaii around the world. Dorado per week. They can live up landing together and if you Source: The Department of
and means "very strong". is very popular both for to a maximum of 5 years al- keep a male on the line, of- Agriculture, Livestock, and
Dorado is based on Span- recreational fishing and for though very few reach that ten the others will stay close Fisheries (Santa Rosa).
ish and refers to the golden consumption. It is known age. Most become adults or can keep the group in-

A quick snack for the road: Learn how to make the Aruban Pastechi!

(Oranjestad)—If you ever been it a quick mix. Next add the butter, and most common filling you’ll find
to Aruba before, you probably water and egg and mix until thor- in Aruba is a simple cheese filling.
heard of (and even tried) the Aru- oughly combined. At this point, For this, we usually use shredded
ban Pastechi. Beloved by young your dough will start to get sticky; Gouda, but feel free to use any
and old, this tasty treat is a staple time for an arm workout. Knead cheese that melts well when frying
for party snacks, a quick lunch or your dough into the bowl you are the pastry.
even breakfast! using or on a clean surface with
some flour lightly dusted until its Place the filling on your rolled out
Here’s how to make the Pastechi surface is smooth. You'll know your piece of dough, fold it in half and
dough. dough is ready when it doesn’t pinch the sides shut with a fork. If
stick to your hands or the surface you have a folding tool, feel free to
Ingredients: on which you’re kneading it. Let use it for this process. Your pastechi
4 cups of wheat flour your dough rest covered for 15-20 is ready for the fryer!
1 tbsp baking powder (if using self- minutes.
rising flour, omit baking powder) If you want to store some pastechis
1 tsp salt After resting, divide your dough for later use, you can freeze them. any time of the day, but it has be-
1 tbsp sugar into approximately 100 gram balls A good tip is to place a piece come almost tradition to eat paste-
0.5 cup of melted butter and roll it flat with a rolling pin. The of wax paper in between each chis for breakfast on the way to
1 cup water thickness of the pastechi depends pastechi if you are to store them work. Many roadside snack trucks
1 egg on your taste, but the average thin- on top of one another. This way the sell pastechi from early morning
ness would be around ¼ inch or so. pastechis don’t stick to each other to noon, and offer a variety of fill-

Directions: when defrosting. ings like cheese; ham and cheese;
Sift your flour into a bowl and add Filling for the pastechis varies ac- ground beef and pulled chicken to
all the dry ingredients before giving cording to your taste. The easiest Here in Aruba we enjoy pastechi at name a few. q