Pastel de Feira (Brazilian Fried Pastry Pockets)
In short: Thin, blistered pastry pockets with seasoned ground beef or melted cheese, fried until crisp. A classic of São Paulo's street markets. It takes about 1 h 35 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 1 h
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 35 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 550 kcal
Pastel de feira is the snack of the open-air street markets of São Paulo, where it is fried to order and eaten hot with sugarcane juice. The dough is rolled very thin and made crisp by a splash of cachaça or vinegar, which makes it blister in the hot oil. Fillings are simple: seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, or both. Roll the dough as thin as you can for the best crunch.
Instructions
- Cook the onion in the oil for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and beef and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until no pink remains and it reaches 71°C (160°F). Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, salt and pepper. Cool, then add the parsley.
- Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the oil, cachaça and enough lukewarm water to make a soft, smooth dough that is not sticky. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Cover the dough and rest it for 30 minutes. Divide it in two.
- Roll one half on a floured counter into a very thin sheet, about 1 mm (1/32 in) thick. Cut it into eight rectangles of about 10 x 15 cm (4 x 6 in).
- Put 2 tablespoons of beef, or a small handful of cheese with a pinch of oregano, on half of each rectangle. Brush the edges with water, fold over and press with a fork to seal tightly.
- Heat 5 cm (2 in) of oil to 180°C (350°F). Fry 3 or 4 pastéis at a time for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until blistered and golden. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
Tips
- Roll the dough as thin as you can and rest it first. A relaxed dough rolls thin without shrinking back, and thin dough blisters and crisps.
- To skip the rolling, look for ready-made pastel dough sheets at Brazilian or Latin grocers. Pizza-style filling and hearts of palm are other popular choices.
Questions and answers
Why are my pastéis not bubbly?
The dough was probably too thick or the oil was not hot enough. Roll it very thin and fry at 180°C (350°F).
Can I freeze pastéis?
Yes. Freeze the filled, unfried pastéis in a single layer, then bag them for up to 2 months. Fry them straight from frozen for 4 to 5 minutes per side.
What other fillings are popular?
Shredded chicken with cream cheese, hearts of palm and shredded salt cod are common. Sweet pastéis with banana and cinnamon, or guava paste and cheese, are popular too.
How long does it take to make Pastel de Feira (Brazilian Fried Pastry Pockets)?
About 1 h 35 min in total: 1 h of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pastel de Feira (Brazilian Fried Pastry Pockets)?
About 550 kcal per serving, with 19 g of protein, 49 g of carbohydrates and 31 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 550 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49 g |
| Fat | 31 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
