Cholera (food)
 | |
| Type | Savoury pastry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Switzerland |
| Region or state | Valais |
| Associated cuisine | Swiss cuisine |
A cholera is a pastry filled with potatoes, vegetables, fruits and cheese, originated from the Valais region of Switzerland.
Originally, the local ingredients for such a dish were apples, pears, potatoes, onions, leeks, raclette cheese (usually Gomser) and bacon. The dish is mostly known in the region of Valais within Switzerland.
Etymology[edit]
The origin of the unusual name for the dish remains unclear. A folk etymological explanation purports that during an epidemic of the disease cholera in 1836, people in the region improvised a dish involving pastry and whatever food they had at hand, as normal trade was disrupted. After the epidemic subsided, chefs returned to the concept of putting regional ingredients in a savoury tart, and the "cholera" dish has lasted since.[1]
However, various other linguistic theories try to link the origin of the name to Chola or Cholu (Valais German for coal) as the pastry would be baked on coals.[2] Alternatively, Cholära is also the Valais German term for a specific room within a bakery where coal would be gathered.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ Dean, Rupali (15 October 2009). "Le Brassus: Home to Culinary delights & exclusive watches". The Economic Times (India). Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ "Gommer Cholera". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ^ Joh. Siegen: Brot im Lötschental. In: Schweizer Volkskunde 46 (1956), S. 65–71, hier S. 67; Rudolf Hotzenköcherle und Rudolf Brunner (Bearbeiter): SDS Phonogramme. Begleittexte zu den Tonaufnahmen für den Sprachatlas der deutschen Schweiz, Heft 2. Francke, Bern 1976, S. 9.
External links[edit]
- Cholera, a Valaisian art form. MySwitzerland.com. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
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