Brazil, traditional cheese bread

Brazilian cheese bread, also known as “pão de queijo,” is a delightful gluten-free snack made with tapioca flour and cheese. It’s a popular treat in Brazil and enjoyed by people around the world. Here’s a basic recipe for making Brazilian cheese bread:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup tapioca flour (also known as tapioca starch)
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup grated cheese (traditionally, Queijo Minas or Parmesan cheese is used, but you can use any cheese you prefer)
• 1 large egg

Instructions:

Make the cheese bread

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. In a saucepan, combine the milk, water, vegetable oil, and salt. Place it over medium heat and bring it to a gentle boil. Be careful not to let it boil vigorously; you just want it hot enough to melt the cheese and dissolve the salt.
3. Once it’s hot, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the tapioca flour. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a smooth, sticky dough. It will come away from the sides of the pan and clump together.
4. Allow the dough to cool for a few minutes so that it’s not too hot to handle. You can use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a wooden spoon to mix in the next steps.
5. Add the grated cheese to the dough and mix until it’s fully incorporated. The dough will become stretchy and elastic.
6. Once the dough is cool enough to handle but still warm, add the egg. Continue mixing until the egg is fully incorporated into the dough, and it becomes smooth and stretchy.

Shape and bake

1. Wet your hands with cold water to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands. Take small portions of the dough and roll them into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them on the prepared baking sheet. You can make them larger if you prefer.
2. Space the dough balls a few inches apart on the baking sheet to allow for expansion.
3. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese bread is puffed up and golden brown.
4. Serve the Brazilian cheese bread hot and gooey inside.

Enjoy your homemade Brazilian cheese bread! It’s a delicious and addictive snack that pairs well with coffee, tea, or as an appetizer.

Also read: Brazil, Moqueca fish stew recipe