Before I moved to Brazil, the words pao de queijo didn’t mean much to me – they might as well have been the name of a trendy pop band.
Fast forward to now, and I can barely go a day without these deliciously chewy, cheesy balls of joy.
What started as a curious taste has turned into a mild (okay, maybe more than mild) addiction. These little cheese breads have taken over my life, and I’m not ashamed to admit it!
For the uninitiated, pao de queijo are traditional Brazilian cheese breads made with tapioca flour and cheese, resulting in a crispy outside and a chewy, airy centre.
They’re addictive in the best way and dangerously easy to pop in your mouth one after another.
Here’s how my journey from clueless Brit to full-on pao de queijo enthusiast unfolded – plus, a recipe so you can make them at home and become mildly obsessed, too.
Brazil introduced me to a lot of amazing things – caipirinhas, samba, Carnaval – but I never expected that these bite-sized cheese breads would become such an important part of my life here.
It started out innocently enough. I’d see a basket of pao de queijo at a café, try one out of politeness, and then… boom. I was in trouble.
Suddenly, I was eating them for breakfast, as a snack, and sometimes even for dinner (you can get big ones and fill them with pretty much anything!)
These tasty balls of cheesy goodness have become my new comfort food.
It’s All About the Tapioca Flour – Unlike bread in the UK, pão de queijo is gluten-free! They’re made with tapioca flour, which gives them their signature chewy texture. It’s a win-win for anyone with gluten sensitivities (and an excellent excuse to eat more).
A Staple in Minas Gerais – While you can find pão de queijo all over Brazil, they originally come from the state of Minas Gerais, where cheese and dairy are king. It’s safe to say Minas Gerais is responsible for this national treasure.
Breakfast, Snack, Anytime Treat – Brazilians don’t limit pão de queijo to one part of the day. You’ll see them at breakfast, during coffee breaks, or as a snack. I’m convinced that any time is the right time.
Simple Ingredients, Incredible Flavour – Despite their taste, pão de queijo requires only a handful of ingredients: tapioca flour, cheese, milk, eggs, and oil. The magic is in the way they combine to create that irresistible texture and flavour.
Making pão de queijo at home is surprisingly easy. And once you’ve got the basics down, you can experiment by adding different types of cheese or spices (although the classic version is delicious enough to keep you hooked).
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Maybe it’s the warm, gooey centre or the savoury, cheesy taste – whatever it is, pão de queijo has a way of winning over even the pickiest of eaters.
They’re like little bites of comfort and happiness all rolled into one. I often catch myself daydreaming about them, and when I travel outside of Brazil, I make sure to stock up or, if I’m lucky, find a Brazilian café.
And while pão de queijo is already pretty close to perfection, here are a few fun ways to shake things up:
As much as I poke fun at my pão de queijo obsession, there’s something genuinely joyful about finding a food that brings so much comfort and pleasure.
It’s amazing how food can connect us to new places and cultures, and pão de queijo has done exactly that for me. It’s a delicious reminder of my Brazilian adventure and the simple joys of daily life here.
Plus, they make excellent snacks when you’re on the go, which, as an expat trying to explore as much of Brazil as possible, comes in very handy!
So next time you’re looking to try something new in the kitchen, or if you find yourself wandering around Brazil, be sure to grab a basket (or five) of pão de queijo.
But fair warning: they’re as addictive as they are delicious, and there’s no going back once you’ve had your first bite.
Bom appetite, and happy snacking!