Chewy Brazilian Cheese Bread Recipes

BRAZILIAN CHEESE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Add the tapioca flour and the salt to a large bowl, whisk to combine and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cheeses and the eggs and set aside.
• Add the milk and the oil to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer on stove top over medium heat.
• When the liquid simmers, remove the pan from heat, and immediately pour the hot liquid into the tapioca mixture and using a wooden spoon, stir to combine - the mixture will not be homogeneous, it'll be gummy and clumpy. See step by step images above for reference.
• Wait 5-10 minutes until the tapioca mixture is cool to touch, and only then add the cheese and egg mixture to the tapioca mixture. Mix with a wooden spoon, or your hands to combine. Now you should have a homogeneous mixture and it should come together as a ball. You'll still see some white tapioca specks in the dough - don't worry, that's totally normal!
• Oil your hands, then scoop a Tbsp to 2Tbsp size portions, roll them into balls, and arrange them in a baking sheet approximately 2" apart from one another. *For freezing instructions see section below!
• Bake until golden brown, approximately 30-35 minutes.
• To freeze your Brazilian cheese bread for later, follow all steps up until rolling the little balls and placing them the baking sheet. Then, just place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes for the balls to set (just enough for them to hold their shape).
• When the balls are set, you can place them in a freezer safe ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3-4 months.
• To bake them, no thawing needed! Just preheat the oven to 350F, then arrange the little frozen balls in a baking sheet about 2" apart from one another and bake until golden brown - approximately 40-45 minutes.

CHEF JOHN'S BRAZILIAN CHEESE BREAD (PAO DE QUEIJO)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place tapioca flour in a mixing bowl. Combine milk, olive oil, and salt in a pan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Immediately remove from heat and pour into the bowl with the tapioca. Mix until a shaggy dough starts to form. Let rest for 5 minutes.
• Add mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, eggs, and cayenne. Stir with a fork until thoroughly combined. Use an ice cream scoop to portion dough onto a silicone-lined baking sheet. Poke down any jagged bits using a wet finger if desired.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve warm.

CHEWY BRAZILIAN CHEESE BREAD (PAO DE QUEIJO)

Steps:

• In medium pot, heat milk, oil and salt over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Do not let it reach a vigorous boil. Remove from heat once bubbles start appearing along the edge or the milk starts foaming a bit. Milk should be steaming. Stir well.
• Add all the tapioca starch and stir to combine until full incorporated. Dough will be gooey, sticky, and lumpy. (See note below if dough is runny.)
• Pour dough into mixing bowl and let rest until cool enough to touch, at least 15-20 minutes.
• Preheat oven 450 deg F (230C).
• Using a mixer with either a paddle or dough hook attachment, mix the eggs into the dough thoroughly until well-combined. (See note below.)
• Add grated Parmesan cheese and mix well to combine.
• Using either a scoop, two spoons, or your hands, form dough into balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Put baking sheet into oven and immediately turn heat down to 350 deg F (180C).
• Bake for 30 minutes until bread is golden brown. Let cool 10-15 minutes before serving.

BRAZILIAN CHEESE BREAD (PAO DE QUEIJO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Pour olive oil, water, milk, and salt into a large saucepan, and place over high heat. When the mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat immediately, and stir in tapioca flour and garlic until smooth. Set aside to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir the cheese and egg into the tapioca mixture until well combined, the mixture will be chunky like cottage cheese. Drop rounded, 1/4 cup-sized balls of the mixture onto an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until the tops are lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.

CHEWY BRAZILIAN CHEESE BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small saucepan, combine the milk, water and oil and bring to a boil.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the hot milk mixture with the tapioca flour and beat on medium speed. Add the mozzarella, Parmesan, eggs and salt and mix until just combined. The dough will be very soft; if necessary, add a little more tapioca flour.
• Shape and roll the dough into about 24 balls with your hands; moisten your hands if the dough is very sticky. Transfer the balls to the prepared pan. Sprinkle the balls with a little more mozzarella and bake until golden and puffed, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with marinara and/or chimichurri. Enjoy!