Clarinhas de Fão

Clarinhas de Fão are traditional Portuguese pastries from the village of Fão, in the Baixo Minho region. They are made from a very thin pastry filled with gila (chila) jam, which is prepared by cooking the shredded squash with sugar, lemon zest, and cinnamon. The pastries are shaped into half-moons or rectangles and then fried. They are sprinkled with powdered sugar after frying. These conventual sweets have their origins in the 19th century and were believed to be created in the Monastery of Santa Clara, becoming famous in the region due to local families selling them.