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Recipe

Brazilian-Inspired Pao de Queijo Cheese Breads

Small tapioca-starch cheese breads bake with a delicate crust and chewy center in this Brazilian-inspired snack, made with mozzarella and Parmesan.

Brazilian-Inspired Pao de Queijo Cheese Breads
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Ingredients

  • 250 g tapioca starch, also sold as tapioca flour; not cassava flour or tapioca pearls
  • 1/2 cup whole milk (120 ml)
  • 1/4 cup water (60 ml)
  • 1/4 cup neutral oil (60 ml)
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 100 g low-moisture mozzarella, finely grated
  • 50 g Parmesan or similar hard cheese, finely grated; use vegetarian-rennet cheese if required

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 400 F (200 C) and line two baking sheets with parchment. Put the tapioca starch in a large heatproof mixing bowl. Measure all ingredients before heating because the hot liquid must be mixed into the starch promptly.
  2. Bring milk, water, oil and salt just to a boil in a small saucepan, watching closely to avoid boil-over. Remove from the heat and carefully pour over the tapioca starch while stirring with a sturdy spoon.
  3. Mix until all dry starch is moistened. The paste may look lumpy and sticky at this stage. Leave for about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until warm rather than hot so it will not scramble the eggs.
  4. Beat in the eggs gradually until the mixture is cohesive, using a sturdy spoon or mixer paddle on low speed. Fold in both cheeses. The dough should be thick, sticky and scoopable, not like a firm wheat-bread dough.
  5. If too warm and soft to portion, refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes. Using two spoons or a small scoop lightly moistened with water, divide into 20 equal mounds on the trays, leaving at least 2 inches between them. Do not taste raw egg-and-starch dough.
  6. Bake for about 22 to 28 minutes, rotating trays and switching shelves halfway, until puffed, set and lightly golden. The centers should be cooked through and reach at least 160 F (71 C), while retaining their characteristic chew. Extend baking if they are still liquid inside.
  7. Transfer to a rack and cool for 5 minutes. They may settle slightly after leaving the oven. Serve warm, allowing for very hot cheese inside, rather than eating immediately from the tray.
  8. Portion two small cheese breads per serving. Cool the remainder promptly before covered refrigerated storage. Rewarm only what is needed for the best crust and center texture.

Pao de queijo-inspired cheese breads are different from wheat rolls: tapioca starch gives them an elastic, chewy center rather than a fluffy yeast-bread crumb. Hot liquid first hydrates the starch, then eggs and grated cheese create a soft dough that is portioned into small mounds.

This home adaptation combines low-moisture mozzarella and Parmesan-style hard cheese. It makes twenty small breads, served two at a time. The centers should be chewy and fully cooked, not dry like conventional bread, and the dough must cool before the eggs are added.

Starch and cheese

Tapioca starch and tapioca flour commonly name the same fine white starch, but cassava flour contains more of the root and is not interchangeable. Cheese moisture affects the dough, so use low-moisture mozzarella and finely grated hard cheese.

Storage

Refrigerate baked breads in a covered container within two hours and use within 3 days. Reheat leftovers to 165 F (74 C). Freeze for up to 2 months for best quality, then reheat thoroughly. Avoid leaving egg-and-cheese dough at room temperature for extended periods.

Texture and timing

A chewy center is expected; a wet uncooked center is not. The total time includes approximately 15 minutes of cooling/resting. Very soft dough may need extra refrigerator time before scooping, so allow flexibility.

Frequently asked questions

Are these automatically gluten-free?

The formula contains no wheat, but a gluten-free claim requires suitable certified ingredients and control of cross-contact. Check starch, cheese and preparation surfaces for the needs of the person eating.

Why did the dough look unusual after scalding?

Hot liquid gelatinizes some of the tapioca starch, producing a sticky, sometimes lumpy paste. It becomes more uniform as the eggs and cheese are incorporated after cooling.

Nutrition notes

Nutrition values are approximate editorial estimates per serving, not laboratory measurements or a verified nutritional analysis. Actual values vary with brands, portion size and substitutions. These original recipe drafts have not been kitchen-tested; cooking times are guides.

Estimate divides all tapioca starch, oil, milk, eggs and cheese into twenty breads and reports two per serving. Cheese brands and the final mound size affect the totals; no dips are included.

Allergen information: Milk; Eggs. Check all ingredient labels and individual dietary needs.

Per serving

Nutrition facts

Serving size: 2 small cheese breads; recipe makes 20 (estimated nutrition)

Calories
220
Total fat
12 g
Saturated fat
4 g
Cholesterol
50 mg
Sodium
240 mg
Total carbohydrate
24 g
Dietary fiber
0 g
Total sugars
1 g
Protein
5 g

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