Hello, dearies!!!! The famous naturally gluten-free Pão de Queijo (both the traditional and the quick versions) were one of the first recipes that I shared with you. Remember??? Well, our recipe for today is pão de queijo– but with a twist… Yes, we’ll be making the ridiculously easy, super aromatic, puffy Brazilian Cheese Rolls with Kalamata, Basil, and Feta or Brazilian cheese rolls with a Mediterranean flair. 🙂 Excited? Oh, I totally am!!!
These rolls are excellent both for breakfast or a snack, and can be accompanied by a small cup of coffee (cafezinho). They are also very easy and quick to make!! The additional ingredients – kalamata olives, basil, and feta cheese – make these already delicious cheese rolls something superb.
If you are on a gluten-free diet for any reason, these are the ideal rolls for you because these cheese rolls are naturally gluten-free. They are made from manioc starch, also known as tapioca flour, which is marketed under different brand names. It can be either purchased in Latin or Asian markets, online, or at your local supermarket (Bob Red Mill tapioca flour).
Although Brazilian cheese rolls are traditionally made with either Minas cheese or Parmesan cheese, I will be using Parmesan and feta cheeses.
I love the plain pão de queijo or Brazilian cheese rolls, but I confess that I enjoy adding new flavors. You know how I love to play in the kitchen. I am also following a Brazilian trend: if you go to Brazil, the plain pão de queijo or cheese rolls is most certainly not the only thing that you will encounter. There are basil cheese rolls, roasted bell pepper cheese rolls, garlic cheese rolls, and so on. Brazilians are creative and love flavor. I hope do you, too.
Well, ready? Oh, I can already smell my wonderful rolls baking in the oven!
Bom apetite!!!
xx
Brazilian Cheese Rolls with Kalamata, Basil, and Feta
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 2/3 cup milk (slightly warm, preferably)
- 1-1/2 cups tapioca flour or manioc starch
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 3 tablespoons pitted chopped kalamata olives
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a mini-muffin tin and set aside.
- Blend all the ingredients (except the feta cheese, kalamata olives, and basil) in the blender until smooth. Use a spatula, if needed, to scrape down the sides of the blender so that everything gets blended well. Stir in the crumbled feta cheese, chopped olives, and basil with a spatula or wood spoon.
- Pour mixture into the greased tin and wipe clean any excess or drips. Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes or until the whole batch is puffy and just lightly golden. Remove cheese rolls from oven and let cool a bit on a rack for a few minutes before serving. Serve cheese rolls warm by themselves, or with savory spreads or butter.
Recipe Notes
Recipe adapted from the plain, Easy Brazilian Cheese Bread by Simply Recipes.
sallybr
September 26, 2013 at 9:53 amMy gosh! You took a perfect recipe and made it even better!!!!
I can hardly wait to try this version, as soon as my kitchen is done, I will definitely be making these babies!
Denise Browning
September 26, 2013 at 8:41 pmThank you, Sally! I am happy as can be b/c you loved my twist to this classic.
Ash-foodfashionparty
September 26, 2013 at 10:31 amThese cheese rolls would be perfect for school lunches too. I’ve never made anything like this before, quite interested in the recipe, the basil and garlic cheese roll sounds good too.
Denise Browning
September 26, 2013 at 8:46 pmThanks, Ash! I agree with you…They are perfect for a school lunches too. I hope you make them one of these days.
Jodee Weiland
September 26, 2013 at 3:09 pmThese rolls look absolutely delicious! I will be trying them soon!
Denise Browning
September 26, 2013 at 8:45 pmJodee: I am so happy with your visit. Welcome to FBTY! I’d love to hear your feedback about these rolls. They are a favorite of mine.
Abbe@This is How I Cook
September 26, 2013 at 5:38 pmDenise, i am liking the look of these! How do you think rice flour would work?
Denise Browning
September 26, 2013 at 8:43 pmI have never tried this recipe with rice flour but you are welcome to try and give me your feedback, Abbe!
Mi Vida en un Dulce
September 26, 2013 at 8:39 pmI fell like I can smell from here the aroma of the fresh cheese bread. Can you send me some?
Denise Browning
September 26, 2013 at 8:42 pmThank you, Nydia! I wish you were here to share this with you.
cquek
September 27, 2013 at 3:42 amMy tummy is growling.
Denise Browning
September 27, 2013 at 8:52 amLOL…I see!!!
Sugar et al
September 27, 2013 at 5:57 amGluten free and so yummy! Denise, I went to Brazilian festival held in Sydney recently. Especially after looking at your delicious recipes over so many months I had to go. And we so loved it! These cheese rolls are just my kind of food..i’ll make them soon!
Denise Browning
September 27, 2013 at 8:52 amI am so glad that you have enjoyed the festival and food, Sonali!
Nik@ABrownTable
September 27, 2013 at 10:59 amI absolutely love how you have reinvented a traditional recipe and made it all your own! Delicious.
Denise Browning
September 27, 2013 at 3:46 pmThanks, Nik! I do really enjoy putting my personal touch to a classic.
Elizabeth
September 27, 2013 at 1:40 pmDenise,
These look amazing and I am going to make these for a birthday party I have this weekened. I love this type of blender recipe for quickie pao de queijo. My son’s favorite food is pao de queijo and he asked me to make these breads instead of a cake for his party. I would love a cachorro quente recipe too 🙂
Beijos, E
Denise Browning
September 27, 2013 at 3:43 pmHi, Elizabeth! Welcome to FBTY! These quickies are delicious but best served warm — although I do enjoy eat them at room temperature when they become chewy.
Yes, I have a great recipe for cachorro quente brasileiro: http://www.frombraziltoyou.org/brazilian-recipes/hot-dog-cachorro-quente/
I wish your son a wonderful birthday…I hope he and his friends enjoy both the pão de queijo and the cachorro quente. Um abraço! Have a great weekend.
Lail | With A Spin
September 27, 2013 at 9:19 pmFlavorful and scrumptious! Can I come over for some?
Denise Browning
September 28, 2013 at 9:09 amHi, Lail! You are very welcome to visit me and eat these rolls.
Daniela
September 28, 2013 at 12:49 amMmh, Denise these Cheese Rolls look so good and with all those aromatic herbs….. It seems as I could almost smell the wonderful aroma 🙂
Denise Browning
September 28, 2013 at 9:08 amThank you, Daniela! They are some of my favs.
Beth
September 29, 2013 at 12:29 pmGluten-free or not, they sound delicious!
john@kitchenriffs
September 29, 2013 at 12:44 pmGosh, how delish! Terrific recipe – thanks so much.
Denise Browning
September 30, 2013 at 7:48 amThanks, John!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
September 29, 2013 at 8:29 pmWith the tapioca flour in here I can imagine the texture of the cheese rolls. This cute little savory rolls are perfect to pack in kids lunch or snack. These look so delicious and addicting!!!
Denise Browning
September 30, 2013 at 7:49 amThanks, Nami! My children enjoy pão de queijo a lot. It is their anytime bite.
Raymund
September 29, 2013 at 10:36 pmThis are nice cheesy savoury bites.
Denise Browning
September 30, 2013 at 7:51 amThanks, Raymund! It is good to have you visiting us again.
Amy Tong
September 30, 2013 at 1:52 amOh my! These are the cutest little Cheese Rolls I’ve ever seen. I love all the flavors and ingredients you put together. 🙂
Denise Browning
September 30, 2013 at 7:52 amThanks, Amy!
Abbe @ Abbe's Cooking Antics
September 30, 2013 at 1:18 pmDenise, there is nothing on this planet that I love more than kalamata olives but I can never find enough to do with them – I am soooo giving this a try!
Denise Browning
September 30, 2013 at 1:43 pmI hope you enjoy these rolls, Abbe! It is so good to have you visiting me here. xx
Liz
September 30, 2013 at 8:24 pmWow, do these look (and sound) amazing! The Mediterranean flavors sound just scrumptious in these, though I would have no trouble eating the classic Brazilian rolls, too!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
October 1, 2013 at 9:00 amThanks so much for sharing this recipe! These rolls sound wonderful! Don’t think I have ever had savory rolls with tapioca flour!
Denise Browning
October 1, 2013 at 4:39 pmThank you, Shashi! I hope you enjoy them!
The Café Sucre Farine
October 1, 2013 at 6:15 pmI love your combination of flavors here Denise! Brazil certainly has some amazing foods!
Denise Browning
October 1, 2013 at 6:34 pmThanks, Chris!
Juliana
October 1, 2013 at 7:02 pmI love the Mediterranean twist in these pao de queijo…looks awesome and exploding with flavors…yum! I could take one or tow just now.
Thanks for the recipe and have a wonderful week Denise 😀
Denise Browning
October 2, 2013 at 7:35 amThanks, Juliana! My pleasure and likewise. xx
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
October 2, 2013 at 1:18 amI’m not a huge cheese fan, but I can easily down a few of this deliciousness 🙂
Denise Browning
October 2, 2013 at 7:37 amIf you’d try, I bet you’d enjoy them. 😉
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com
October 2, 2013 at 1:57 amWhat a delicious appetizer, Denise! I can only imagine how tasty these rolls are with all those olives, feta cheese, and basil! A winning combination!
Denise Browning
October 2, 2013 at 7:38 amThanks, Julia! I hope you try these in the future.
Kate@Diethood
October 2, 2013 at 2:34 amOh me gosh!! Denise, I WANT!!! These sound amazing. Something like this would never last more than 5 minutes in this house. Beautiful!!
Denise Browning
October 2, 2013 at 7:39 amIt’s good to have you visiting FBTY again, Kate! Just like in my house: They disappear in a blink of an eye…
Gintare @Gourmantine
October 2, 2013 at 4:33 amThey look fabulous, perfect for snack or even better party appetizer 🙂
Denise Browning
October 2, 2013 at 7:39 amThank you for stopping by and for your sweet words!
Saskia Ghirotti
October 2, 2013 at 7:48 amThese look absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to try them!
Denise Browning
October 2, 2013 at 8:23 amThank you, Saskia!
Natalia@BrazilianFoodGuide
October 2, 2013 at 9:25 amNossa – nunca pensei em adicionar azeitona – tenho que experimentar! Sei que vou gostar porque morava em Minas e aprendi amar pão de queijo como uma mineira verdadeira rsrs
Denise Browning
October 2, 2013 at 10:00 amOlá, Natália! Bem-vinda a FBTY!!! Obrigada pela visita, querida! Essa é a versão rápida de pão de queijo, a qual eu uso quando não tenho tempo de fazer a tradicional. Dessa vez, eu acrescentei uns ingredientes mediterrâneos para dar um toque diferente ao nosso pãozinho querido. Espero que você faça e aprove. Um abraço!
The Sketched Chef
October 7, 2013 at 2:51 pmWow, this recipe is perfect !
Denise Browning
October 7, 2013 at 4:02 pmThanks a lot and enjoy!
Denise Browning
October 7, 2013 at 4:17 pmThanks for stopping by!
Susan
October 19, 2013 at 6:07 pmThese are unbelievable!! My husband and I are enjoying them so much…. I hope there’s enough for our company!! Thank you!
Denise Browning
October 20, 2013 at 1:43 pmThank you for both trying and stopping by, Susan! I am so glad that you and your husband have enjoyed these cheese rolls. These are my family favorite. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Sihi
October 20, 2013 at 10:48 pmDenise, these sound and look so heavenly!! Bet they are addictive. I am huge fan of tapioca flour, and can imagine how godly these would be in combination with cheese and addition of olives. Yummy yum!
Best,
Sihi
Denise Browning
October 20, 2013 at 11:33 pmThanks a lot, Sihi! I hope you try these rolls one of these days.
Dedy@Dentist Chef
February 27, 2014 at 1:15 amNice tiny little savoury bites!!!great shoots too my friend….
Denise Browning
February 27, 2014 at 7:16 amThanks, Dedy! These are one of my fave breads.
Lois Chowen
July 28, 2016 at 4:42 pmThank you for this recipe! I love cheese and I love “rolls”, but am trying to stay grain-free. Not easy! This looks like a dream come true, and I will definitely be giving this a try. Manioc starch is new to me. I will need to research this one. Thanks for helping to educate me. 🙂
Denise Browning
July 29, 2016 at 1:00 pmHi, Lois! If you don’t find the sour tapioca starch, you can use regular tapioca flour to make these rolls. I hope you enjoy them!!!