Page 18 - AHATA

A10 LOCAL
Saturday 21 September 2024
A quick snack for the road: Learn how to make the Aruban Pastechi!

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

workout. Knead your dough into the you have a folding tool, feel free to stick to each other when defrosting. a few.q

Ayo & Casibari: Aruba’s famous rock formations

(Oranjestad)—The Ayo and Casibari Rock For-
mations are known locally as one of the crucial
sites to have in your “off-road” trip itinerary.
These naturally formed rock formations as just
one of the few places on the island that hold a
rich history of our culture and of our ancestors.

Ayo
The Ayo Rock Formation is located in the north-
ern part of the island, right on the road that
leads you to the Black Stone Beach, and close
to the Natural Bridge. The Ayo is a fenced ter-
rain that consists of several giant boulders,
resting neatly on top of or side by side each
other, adding gorgeous natural architecture
to the surrounding “mondi”*. This is also one of to the general public. Just like Ayo, Casibari ocean in the south. Right in front of the en-
the few sites to contain prehistoric markings of is a fenced area containing several boulders trance, there is the Casibari Café and Grill, a
our indigenous ancestors. The Ayo Rock forma- that lay on top or lean on each other. The best great place to get refreshments and snack be-
tion contains stairs that lead you to the top of aspect of the Casibari Rock Formation is the fore continuing your off-road adventure!
the highest boulder, offering a breath-taking accompanying view when you climb up the
view of the Aruban backyard. The Ayo is usu- top of the round, flat bolder. For this position, Both sites are open free to the public, 24 hours
ally quiet, as it is situated farther away from the you can see the majority of the island and the a day. However, unless you are taking a trip
busier parts of the island. However, this is just with a professional tour guide, there are no
another charm of the site: the quiet area and guides at the sites to help you climb the rock.
the refreshing breeze offer a sense of comfort So, do be careful when trudging on the boul-
and peace. ders, and make sure to befriend any roaming
goats you see along the way!
Casibari
Probably the busier rock formation site, the *Mondi: what we call our Aruban wilderness.
Casibari is situated more in the center of the We don’t have forests, or deserts, but we do
island, much closer—and more accessible— have mondi! q