Filhó

Not to be confused with Filho.

A filhó^[a] is a traditional pastry in Portugal^[1] and Northeastern Brazil.

Filhó

Type	Fried dough
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	Portugal
Main ingredients	Flour, eggs, sugar, cinnamon
Media: Filhó

Filhós are usually made by forming balls from a mixture of flour and eggs. When the dough has risen, the balls are deep-fried and sprinkled with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.^[2] This is a traditional Christmas bake in Portugal, although it is now commercialised throughout the year. Although there is not a specific place of origin, this sweet has strong roots in the inland regions of central Northern Portugal.^[3]

Etymology

The Portuguese word filhó originates from the Latin word foliola, the plural form of foliolum, which is in turn a diminutive of folium ('leaf');^[4] thus, it is cognate with the English word folio^[5] but not the similarly-spelled Portuguese word filho ('son'), which comes from Latin fīlius (also 'son').^[6]

See also

• List of doughnut varieties
• Ganmodoki – Tofu fritter made with vegetables
• Malassada – Portuguese-style fried doughnut, from the Azores
• Food portal

Notes

1. Portuguese pronunciation: [fiˈʎɔ]; pl.: filhós, pronounced [fiˈʎɔʃ]