History of the dish
Some believe it comes from France, and that when Europeans arrived in the American continent, they brought it with them. From there, it spread across all territories, becoming a very popular food in Colombia.
This theory arises from the name of the dish, since the word carimañola derives from the French Carmañola, which when pronounced would sound like carmagnole. A word that might have a lot to do with the French Revolution.
This suggests that many argue the origin of the dish comes from France, during the period of the French Revolution.
On the other hand, the fact that it is a typical dish in Colombia and Panama raised questions among experts, who proposed another scenario, recalling that Panama and Colombia were once one nation.
And of course, the culinary culture persisted, heavily influenced by the Spaniards. This is where the second theory comes in, proposing that the dish was born from the combination of Spanish ingredients and American crops.
Additional facts
This fry also known as pastel de yuca and caribañola, belongs to Colombia’s gastronomic culture. It is characterized by a fried treat made from mashed yuca, stuffed with chicken, cheese, or ground meat.
Regarding its variations, in Ecuador they have el muchín, based on grated yuca and other local ingredients.
Meanwhile, in Costa Rica, a similar dish called enyucado costarricense is prepared, made from yuca dough, margarine, and milk.
