Brazilian Pastel Frito
PASTEL FRITO (Deep-fried pastry filled)
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon of cachaça (or vodka)
1 tablespoon margarine
1/3 cup warm water with 2 pinches of salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
Sift the flour with baking powder.
In a large bowl, mix in the sifted flour, margarine, cachaca and egg.
Mix well while adding the warm water until you get a dough. (Or you can prepare the dough in a electric mixer).
Move the dough to a flat surface and knead it for 15 minutes.
Use a pin to flat the dough. Take half of the dough each time and flatten it with the pin. Fold the dough couple times and flatten it again until you get a thin elastic stripe about 6 inches wide.
Lay the stripes down in a floured surface.
Place full teaspoons of your favorite filling evenly distributed on the dough.
Fold it and cut with a glass or a cookie cutter. Pinch with your finger (or fork) the seam to make sure it is closed.
Deep-fry the Pastel at 350 °F for about 8 minutes or until golden brown.
Pat dry in a paper towel and serve.
Fillings:
You can fill your Pastel with whatever you like.
In Brazil the most common fillings are:
Ground beef
Heart of palms
Shrimp
Cheese (you can just place a piece of cheese and fold the dough)
Bananas (Yes! I love this one. Just place a slice of banana with some sugar and cinnamon and fold the dough)