3 Brazilian Pastel Street Food Recipes

Pastel is a delicious snack that can be found on nearly every street corner throughout Brazil. And it's no surprise as people from Latin America's largest country can't get enough of this street food favorite that comes in so many varieties. Pastel is often enjoyed with a sugarcane juice, so if you ever happen to be in Brazil, you'll need remember this phrase: "Pastel e caldo de cana."

You'll Need:

Basic ingredients:

  • 17⅔ oz wheat flour
  • 1 egg
  • 3⅓ fl oz vegetable oil
  • 6¾ fl oz water
  • 3 tsp cachaça
  • 1 pinch salt
  • flour for the work surface

Here's How:

For the dough, first add the flour to a bowl, make a small hollow in the center, and pour in the oil. Next, add the egg, water, cachaça and salt before kneading everything into a dough and then shaping it into a ball.

Sprinkle some flour on the work surface, remove a small piece from the ball of dough, and roll it out evenly. Next, cut away the sides so that your dough is in a square shape.

Version 1: Mozzarella Meat Pastel

You'll also need:

  • 5⅓ oz fried ground meat
  • 2⅔ oz shredded mozzarella
  • 1 onion, diced and lightly braised
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • water
  • oil for deep-frying

Here's How:

1. Add the meat, mozzarella, onion, parsley, garlic and dry ingredients to a bowl and mix them carefully. Place about a tablespoon of the mixture just above the center of the dough square.

2. Wet the edge of the dough and fold it in half. Press the edge of the dough down and then add a pattern using a fork.

 

3. Deep-fry the pastel in oil at 360°F for 6 minutes. 

Version 2: Chicken Curry Pastel

You'll also need:

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp curry powder
  • 5⅓ oz chicken breast
  • 2⅔ oz cream cheese
  • 1 tsp curry
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch pepper
  • water
  • oil for deep-frying

Here's How:

1. First, heat up the oil in a pan and mix in the curry powder. Keep on stirring so that it doesn't burn. Next, add the whole chicken and cook both sides until golden brown.

2. Take the chicken out of the pan, leave it to cool, and pluck it into thin strips. Carefully mix the chicken with cream cheese, garlic and the dry ingredients.

3. Add the filling to the dough as in version 1, fold it up and deep-fry it in hot oil.

Version 3: Tomato Mozzarella Pastel

You'll also need:

  • 3¼ oz shredded mozzarella
  • 3 cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • water
  • oil for deep-frying

Here's How:

1. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the mozzarella and oregano. Add the mixture to the dough as in version 1.

2. Fold the dough square up as before and deep-fry the pastel.

If you're not planning on making a trip to Brazil any time soon, these wonderful recipes are a great way to taste some fine Latin American cuisine at home. Enjoy!

Comments

Also hefty