by catherine of fox in the pine

Pastel de queijo is an appetizer commonly eaten in Brazil. You can order it at fancy restaurants or bars as well as from street vendors for a quick snack. It is really easy to make and is quite delicious with its hot gooey cheese inside! Cheers to cheese!

Ingredients:

1 pack of wonton wrappers

Monterey Jack or Swiss cheese

Vegetable oil

Small bowl of warm water

Directions:

Cut the cheese into 1 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2" rectangular cubes. Place one piece of cheese onto a wonton. Dab one finger into a small bowl of warm water and lightly wet the edge of two adjacent sides of the wonton. Press the wonton closed with the opposite side to make a triangular pocket that encloses the cheese. Repeat these steps with each pastel.

Fill a small frying pan with a 1/2" layer of vegetable oil. Heat up the oil and fry each pastel for just a minute or two on each side, or until golden brown.

Remove and serve hot!

-CATHERINE JOHNSON

this post is part of the dumpling a day while i'm away guest blogger series. i'm in israel right now so i've gotten some awesome bloggers, photographers, and writers, to showcase delicious dumplings. if you're interested in being a dumpling guest blogger, send me a note at yeh.molly@gmail.com. yay!