Pan de campo
Pan de campo is a flatbread with a name that is thought of as country bread, camp bread, or cowboy bread.[1] The bread was a regional staple of cowboy and vaqueros of southern Texas.[2] Celebrated in several southern Texas festivals, it was named an official symbol of Texas in 2005.[3]
Main ingredients | wheat flour |
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Ingredients generally used | baking powder, salt, shortening, water |
Description
Pan de campo is a flatbread made from wheat flour, baking powder, salt, a fat, and water. Traditionally it was cooked in a dutch oven.[1] The resulting round loaf is 1 to 1–1/2 inches thick.[3] The flavor is biscuit-like.[4]
In culture
The Tejano origins of the dish have become part of Tex-Mex fusion.[5] In Larry McMurtry's novel, Lonesome Dove, the Mexican cook prepares the bread for wranglers.[6]
Sourdough bread was more widespread on cattle drives in Texas than the regional pan de campo. They were consumed along with other breads including tortillas, hoe cakes, and cornbread.[7] In June 2005, Governor Rick Perry signed legislation making pan de campo the official state bread of Texas.[3]
References
- "Pan de Campo", Texas Monthly, November 2016, retrieved 2018-08-20
- Martin W. Sandler (15 January 2001). Vaqueros: America's First Cowmen. Henry Holt and Company (BYR). pp. 30–. ISBN 978-0-8050-6019-5.
- Raven, John (November 1, 2005), "Pan de Campo: The Official State Bread of Texas", Texas Cooking, retrieved 2018-08-20
- Lisa Fain (29 November 2011). The Homesick Texan Cookbook. Hachette Books. pp. 352–. ISBN 978-1-4013-0394-5.
- David J. Leonard; Carmen R. Lugo-Lugo (17 March 2015). Latino History and Culture: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. pp. 534–. ISBN 978-1-317-46646-8.
- Mary Ellen Snodgrass (11 June 2016). World Food: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture and Social Influence from Hunter Gatherers to the Age of Globalization: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture and Social Influence from Hunter Gatherers to the Age of Globalization. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1769–. ISBN 978-1-317-45160-0.
- Chapman, Art (March 27, 2005), "Food fight on for official bread of Texas", Houston Chronicle, retrieved 2018-08-20