The surprising, ancient, and contested history of the world's favorite fried dough

Food & Drink · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A simple mixture of flour, water, and salt, the churro is a global icon of street food. Whether dipped in morning coffee or filled with dulce de leche, its origins remain a mystery, spanning Roman cookbooks, nomadic shepherd legends, and theories of ancient trade routes between China and Portugal.

The exact origins of the churro are difficult to pin down. Food historian Michael Krondl notes that the snack bears a striking resemblance to flour and water fritters found in Apicius, a Roman cookbook from the 1st century AD. Some suggest the concept is even older, rooted in ancient Greek recipes, and has effectively existed in the Mediterranean basin for as long as cooking has been recorded. The name itself, according to the Diccionario de la lengua española, is onomatopoeic, mimicking the distinct sound of dough hitting hot oil.

One popular but contested theory suggests that Portuguese sailors brought the technique to Europe from Ming-dynasty China. This narrative posits that the churro evolved from youtiao, a traditional Chinese fried dough. Proponents argue that the Portuguese adapted the Chinese method, introducing the star-shaped nozzle to extrude the dough rather than pulling it by hand. Another theory claims Spanish shepherds invented the snack as a portable alternative to baked goods, though critics point out that the large quantities of oil required for frying make this nomadic lifestyle origin unlikely.

Today, the churro has evolved into a diverse array of regional delicacies. While the standard Spanish version is piped into hot oil using a churrera to create its signature ridges, variations abound globally. In Cuba and Latin America, they are often filled with ingredients like guava, chocolate, or dulce de leche. In the Middle East, a similar sweet known as Karabeej Halab uses semolina flour and is soaked in rose water syrup. Whether served as a breakfast staple in Spanish cafes or a sugary treat at American theme parks, the churro remains a versatile, enduring culinary phenomenon.

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