Pão de Queijo
Pão de queijo has its roots in the state of Minas Gerais, where cassava, the plant from which tapioca starch is extracted, was a staple ingredient long before Portuguese colonization. Enslaved people on colonial farms used leftover cassava starch to make simple flatbreads, which evolved over the centuries, with the addition of cheese and eggs, into the dish known today. Unlike many gluten-free breads in modern cooking, pão de queijo isn't a recent adaptation — it's naturally gluten-free from its origins, since tapioca starch contains no wheat at all. The scalding technique, in which the starch is doused with hot liquid before being kneaded, is what gives the inside that stretchy, elastic texture so characteristic of it — a step that partially gelatinizes the starch, impossible to reproduce by simply mixing raw ingredients.
The tapioca starch gets scalded with hot liquid
It partially gelatinizes, which gives the inside its stretchy, elastic texture
It's naturally gluten-free, by the nature of its ingredients
Not a modern adaptation, but the original traditional recipe from Minas Gerais
The eggs are kneaded in only once the dough has cooled a bit
Added to hot dough, they'd partially cook before their time
It bakes until puffed and browned only on the outside
The inside stays soft and elastic, contrasting with the thin, crisp crust
Ingredients 4 servings
- 500g sweet tapioca starch (polvilho doce)
- 250ml milk
- 125ml vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 200g grated cheese (parmesan or a mix with minas cheese)
How to make it
- 1HEAT THE LIQUID: bring the milk, oil and salt to a boil.
- 2SCALD THE STARCH: pour the hot liquid over the tapioca starch in a bowl, stir until it forms a shaggy, partially cooked dough, let cool slightly.
- 3ADD THE EGGS AND CHEESE: once cool enough to handle, knead in the eggs one at a time, then the grated cheese, until a smooth, sticky but workable dough forms.
- 4SHAPE: roll into small balls with oiled or floured hands.
- 5BAKE: bake until puffed and browned on the outside, with a stretchy, chewy interior.
- 6SERVE: serve warm, ideally fresh from the oven.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
