Fofas da Povoação – How they are made and how to make them

Anyone passing through the village of Povoação, on the Island of São Miguel, cannot miss stopping at a café or pastry shop in search of the village’s famous sweet: Fofas da Povoação.

Whether a resident or visitor, stopping to taste this Azorean delight is a must.

What are Fofas da Povoação?

The Fofas da Povoação are a typical sweet from the village of Povoação, on São Miguel Island. The Fofas have a dough very similar to that of an éclair, flavored with fennel and filled with vanilla or lemon cream and plenty of butter, receiving a drizzle of chocolate on top for a special touch. This sweet can be found in most cafés in Povoação.

History

It is said in the village that the Fofas da Povoação were created by the fairy hands of a local named Dona Angelina (now deceased). The elders of Povoação assure that the original flavor of the Fofas was crafted by Dona Angelina, who passed away leaving the original recipe of the sweet to her family. The family still runs the local café business, where the delicious Fofas da Povoação are still sold. Café e supermercado APL (António Pereira da Luz) in Olhar Povoacense

How to Make Fofas da Povoação

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon of salt;
• 125 g of butter;
• 15 eggs;
• 2 tablespoons of sugar;
• 2 tablespoons of fennel seeds (erva-doce);
• 500 ml of water and milk;
• 500 g of flour;
• Vanilla cream or lemon cream (optional).

Preparation Method

In a pot, add the water, milk, salt, fennel seeds, butter, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Then, add the sifted flour to the remaining ingredients. Stir the dough on heat until it separates from the pot.

Once the dough is ready, let it cool and then add the eggs one by one, stirring constantly after adding each egg. Mix well until all the eggs are absorbed and the dough has the consistency of a thick meringue.

Grease a baking tray and dust it with flour. Next, place small mounds of the dough and bake in a hot oven at approximately 220º C.

When the Fofas are golden, remove them from the oven and fill them with vanilla or lemon cream, then add the chocolate drizzle for the final touch.

Video Recipe for Fofas da Povoação by Leonor Santos

Curiosities

The Fofas da Povoação are typically made during the carnival season, but you can find them in the village year-round. This sweet is very present during Carnival festivities, especially because many dances and celebrations take place, and during the night, there is a meal to regain strength for the ongoing festivities. It is very common for participants to bring Fofas to delight the revelers.

The Fofas da Povoação bring great pride to the people of São Miguel. It is hard for anyone to visit the island without making their way to Povoação to enjoy this traditional and delicious sweet. Do the same when visiting the island; be sure to try this delicacy from Povoação.

See also: Gastronomy and Typical Sweets of the Azores