Arreglados

Ingredients

Rolls

• 500 gstrong white flour
• 7 gdried yeast
• 300 mlwarm milk
• 40 gsugar
• 10 gsalt
• 60 gbutter, softened
• 1egg

Beef filling

• 400 gbeef, boiled and shredded
• 1onion, chopped
• 1red pepper, chopped
• 2garlic cloves
• 2tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tablespoontomato paste
• 1 teaspooncumin
• salt and pepper
• chopped coriander

Other fillings

• refried black beans
• sliced white cheese
• mayonnaise and mustard

To finish

• 1egg, beaten, for glazing

Directions

1. Warm the milk until it is lukewarm. Stir the yeast and sugar into it. Leave it ten minutes until it froths. Put the flour and salt in a large bowl.
2. Pour in the yeasted milk and the egg. Bring it together into a rough dough. Add the butter in a little at a time. Butter added early stops the gluten forming. Knead it for a full ten minutes. It should be smooth, soft and elastic. Oil the bowl and turn the dough in it. Cover it over with a damp cloth.
3. Leave it somewhere warm until doubled. Making the beef filling takes some time. Boil the beef until it is completely tender. Give it about ninety minutes there.
4. Let it cool down in its own liquid. Shred it by hand into fine strands. Keep some of the cooking liquid. Heat oil in a pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion and pepper until soft. Give them a good eight minutes. Add the garlic and cook for a minute. Stir in all of the tomato paste. Fry the paste for about two minutes.
5. Add the chopped tomatoes to it. Cook them down for five minutes. Add the shredded beef and the cumin. Add a little of the cooking liquid. Simmer it until it is moist but not wet. A wet filling makes the rolls soggy. Season it well and stir in the coriander. Let it cool completely before filling. Divide it into twelve equal pieces. Roll each one into a smooth ball.
6. Set them on lined baking trays. Leave good space between them. Flatten each one slightly with your palm. Cover them and let them rise again. Give them thirty to forty minutes. Heat the oven to 190C for them. Brush the tops with beaten egg.
7. Bake them for about eighteen minutes. They should be deep golden on top. Cool them all on a wire cooling rack. Filling them is done once cool. Spread the cut sides with mayonnaise or mustard. Pack the beef filling generously inside. Press the roll gently back closed. Some shops warm them briefly before selling. Warm them in a low oven to serve again.

Technique

• Arreglados belong to the Costa Rican bakery tradition of small filled and stuffed snacks sold by the piece.
• The fillings vary from shop to shop, and beef, beans and cheese are the standard three.

Substitutions

• Shop-bought soft bread rolls can be filled the same way.
• Shredded chicken or pork can replace the beef.

Variations

• A version with only beans and cheese is the cheapest and most common.
• Some shops add sliced hard-boiled egg.
• Empanadas and pan de bono are sold alongside them in the same cases.

History

A Costa Rican bakery and bus-station snack, made in trays and sold by the piece from glass cases.

Frequently asked questions

What is Arreglados?

Arreglados is a street food from Costa Rica: small soft rolls split and filled with shredded beef, cheese or beans. A Costa Rican bakery and bus-station snack, made in trays and sold by the piece from glass cases.

How long does Arreglados take to make?

Arreglados takes 30 minutes plus rising of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 12 rolls. It is rated medium to make.

What can I substitute in Arreglados?

Yes, within limits. Shop-bought soft bread rolls can be filled the same way. Shredded chicken or pork can replace the beef.