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)