Merienda is a light meal eaten before lunch or dinner, originating in Spain and popular in the Philippines, Argentina, and Croatia. It is usually taken a few hours after breakfast or lunch and can be a replacement for a heavy meal. Popular snacks include tapas, pandesal, pan de miga, and empanadas.
A merienda is any snack eaten before a heavy meal. It is a light meal originating in Spain and a usual meal eaten in other countries such as the Philippines, Argentina and Croatia. The term merienda comes from the Spanish merendar, which means “to have a snack”. It is usually eaten to relieve hunger when it is not yet lunch time or dinner time. If eaten after breakfast and before lunch, it is called brunch; in the Philippines, however, this term can also mean a meal eaten by a person who has skipped breakfast and has an early lunch.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are the three types of meals that people usually eat every day, although people in other countries also eat a fourth type called a merienda or snack. Merienda is taken a few hours after breakfast and before lunch or a few hours after lunch and before dinner. For example, Spaniards usually eat tapas mid-morning and bread mid-afternoon. In Spanish cuisine, tapas are appetizers with strong flavors and are usually served in local restaurants. For the Spanish, eating a snack can replenish energy and is considered an important meal, especially for children.
Filipinos got into the habit of eating merienda from the Spanish once the Philippines became a Spanish colony. Some popular Filipino snacks include pandesal and so-called kakanin such as palitaw and suman. While eating a snack is not an original Filipino custom, snacking has become a standard meal that can also be taken in place of a heavy meal, especially dinner. This is called a merienda cena, which some dieters take to skip dinner. Merienda dinner, however, can also be taken before dinner.
It is typical for people in Argentina to have a snack before lunch. One of the most popular snacks is the pan de miga, the equivalent of the ham and cheese sandwich, although other fillings such as tomatoes, lettuce and olives can be added. Another common Argentine snack is the tostada or fried tortilla, which is commonly eaten with sweet breads such as dulce de leche and jam. The empanada, a classic beef-stuffed snack in Argentina, can also be filled with other ingredients such as poultry and cheese. It is commonly served as a finger food at parties.
Croatians spend their break time eating merienda foods like sandwiches. Marenda, as it is called in Croatia, typically consists of bread and cheese. Traditional marenda recipes, however, include fish and meat. Cheese, as well as other dairy products, is a staple snack in Croatia. Croatian snacks can also include fruit and salad.
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