Chowtestiä

Chowtestiä is a term that refers to a traditional Finnish style of preparing small, savory pastries or appetizers. These are typically bite-sized and often feature a dough wrapper filled with various ingredients. The name itself, "chowtestiä," is a playful portmanteau suggesting a combination of a food-related term ("chow") and a diminutive or affectionate suffix, hinting at their small size and snack-like nature.

The filling for chowtestiä can be quite diverse, ranging from savory meats like ground beef or minced pork, to fish, cheese, vegetables, or even mushrooms. These ingredients are usually seasoned with herbs and spices, and sometimes combined with a binder like egg or cream to create a cohesive filling. The dough used can vary, but it is often a simple flour-based dough, sometimes enriched with butter or egg, which is rolled out thinly and cut into small circles or squares.

These small pastries are typically baked or sometimes fried until golden brown and cooked through. Chowtestiä are commonly served as appetizers at parties, gatherings, or as part of a larger spread of Finnish snacks, known as "pikkupurtavaa." They are considered a convenient and versatile finger food, allowing for easy customization of flavors and ingredients to suit different tastes and occasions. While not a widely known culinary term outside of Finland, chowtestiä represent a charming aspect of Finnish home cooking and hospitality.