Recipe for Coxinha (Brazilian Chicken Croquettes)

Yields: About 20 croquettes Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes

Coxinha is a beloved Brazilian street food, a savory croquette filled with shredded chicken, often served with a side of hot sauce or ketchup. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Ingredients:

• For the Dough:
  • 2 cups chicken broth (from cooking the chicken)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Salt to taste
• For the Filling:
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste.
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
• For Breading and Frying:
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups breadcrumbs
  • Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions:

1. Cook the Chicken:
   • Place the chicken breasts in a pot with water, and cook until tender. Shred the cooked chicken with two forks. Reserve 2 cups of the chicken broth.
2. Prepare the Filling:
   • In a pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened.
   • Add the shredded chicken, tomato paste, parsley salt, and pepper. Cook for a few minutes until all the flavors are combined. set aside to cool.
3. Make the Dough:
   • In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth, butter, and salt to a boil.
   • Add the flour all at once, and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
   • Continue to stir for a couple of minutes to cook the flour.
   • Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
4. Assemble the Coxinhas:
   • Take a small portion of the dough and flatten it in your hand.
   • Place a spoonful of chicken filling in the center of the dough.
   • Shape the dough around the filling into a teardrop shape, pinching the top to form the characteristic coxinha point.
   • repeat the process until all the dough and filling is used.
5. Bread and Fry:
   • Dip each coxinha in the beaten eggs, and then coat it with breadcrumbs.
   • Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large saucepan over medium-high heat.
   • Fry the coxinhas in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 3-5 minutes per side.
   • Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
6. Serve: Serve the coxinhas hot, with your favorite dipping sauce.

Tips:

• For a smoother dough, you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook.
• You can add cream cheese to the chicken filling for extra richness.
• Ensure the oil is hot enough before frying, so the coxinhas don’t absorb too much oil.

Enjoy these delicious Brazilian treats!