Pao de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Rolls) Gluten Free!

[MonicaS]

Cheese Balls (Pao de Queijo)

This is a gluten-free and yeast-free dough.  They are best warm, just a few minutes out of the oven.  They also freeze well.  They are ubiquitous in Brazil, and are a great snack.

Recipe By     :Michael Bateman from Café Brazil cookbook
Serving Size  : 12   

  1 2/3              cups  tapioca flour
  4           tablespoons  sunflower or olive oil
  1                     generous pinch of sea salt
  1                 large  free range egg -- beaten
  6              tablespoons  plain yogurt
  1/2              cup  freshly grated hard cheese, preferably Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 450 F.

Sift the tapioca flour into a bowl.  In a saucepan, combine the oil and salt with 6 tablespoons water and bring to a boil.  Slowly pour onto the tapioca, stirring it to a stiff dough with a wooden spoon.

When the dough has cooled slightly, stir in the egg, then the yogurt and finally, the cheese.

Grease your hands with an oily piece of paper towel, then form the dough into 12 balls.  Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Put into the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 350 F.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  You should be able to tell that the rolls are done by the appetizing smell, but you can test for done-ness by inserting a skewer.  If it comes out clean, they are ready.

Cool on a wire rack.

[JoanW]

Monica, The cheese rolls sound delicious!   
 What would you serve them with in a traditional Brazilian meal?

            Just curious,    Joanie

[DianeR]

Thanks for this recipe -- I am looking forward to making them at home.

I think they are mostly a snack food in Brazil -- that's what I remember when I visited years ago -- but they are so tasty that they could be eaten any time of day. I think they would be good with a green salad and some veggies.

Diane R

[MiriaK]

Diane,
You are right, this is just a snack in Brazil. However, in many places they also serve as an appetizer. It is delicious with salad.
The pronunciation is something like this: pow-n gee kayjho
Pao de queijo is one thing that I really miss from my country!   
Enjoy it.

[KathyC]

Hi Monica,
These sound delicious! I  have a niece that is gluten challenged. I'm sure she will
love this recipe.