Daring Bakers - Pão de Queijo

This month's Daring Bakers' Challenge took us on a trip to beautiful Brazil! Renata of "Testado, Provado & Aprovado!" taught us how to make Pao De Queijo, tasty cheese buns that make the perfect snack or treat, and that will make your taste buds samba!

This challenge is very special to me.The host, Renata, is someone very nice, whom I contacted some time ago to ask for permission to use a wonderful step by step of a recipe in Portuguese (her blog is a must read).  I had also the privilege of having her very kind comments on some of my posts.

Besides that, the challenge itself is a return to Brazil, the birth country of  my mother, and where I've been on three occasions.

Sometimes it occurred to me that it would be nice baking pão de queijo, but I never did, until now!

Didn't try the original recipe, just the fake one because I wasn't able to find tapioca starch. However, the alternative is quite good and was a success. Thanks Renata!

“FAKE” PÃO DE QUEIJO
Servings:
Yields about 15 small balls

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons PLUS 1 teaspoon (50ml) milk
3 tablespoons (45ml) water
1 tablespoon (15 ml) (1/2 oz) (15 gm) butter
2/3 cup (160 ml) (3-1/2 oz) (100 gm) potato starch (I had to use a bit more to form the balls)
1/2 tsp (3 gm) baking powder
salt to taste
1/2 cup (125 ml) (1-2/3 oz) (50 gm) grated cheese (I used Queijo da Ilha - one of the best in Portugal, from  São Jorge Island, in the Azores)
1 large egg

Directions:

• The method for these is the same as for Traditional Pão de Queijo.
• Preheat oven to moderate 350°F/180°C/gas mark 4
• Boil the milk, water and butter together.
• In a bowl, sieve the starch, salt and baking powder.
• Pour the hot milk mixture over the starch and stir. It will be lumpy.
• Add the egg and cheese, stir until well combined.[I had to add a bit more starch to make the balls]
• Make little balls with lightly oiled hands and arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake in a preheated moderate oven (350°F/180°C/gas mark 4) until lightly golden, for about 20 minutes.
• Serve warm.