Paste

A paste is a delightful pastry originating from Hidalgo, a state in central Mexico, and its neighboring regions. These delectable treats feature a variety of fillings, such as potatoes with ground beef, apples, pineapple, sweetened rice, tinga, mole, and other traditional Mexican flavors. The concept of pastes was inspired by the Cornish pasty, introduced by miners and builders from Cornwall, United Kingdom, to towns like Mineral del Monte and Pachuca in Hidalgo, starting in 1824.

One aspect that distinguishes pastes from empanadas is that the filling ingredients in pastes are not pre-cooked before being enclosed in the dough. Additionally, while empanadas typically have a light, flaky, multi-layered pastry, pastes are characterized by a firmer and thinner dough layer.

Every October, Real del Monte hosts the Festival Internacional del Paste, a three-day event dedicated to celebrating this cherished pastry. This festival presents a fantastic opportunity for both locals and visitors to savor and appreciate the rich culinary heritage of pastes.