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
sallybr says
My 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 says
Thank you, Sally! I am happy as can be b/c you loved my twist to this classic.
Ash-foodfashionparty says
These 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 says
Thanks, Ash! I agree with you…They are perfect for a school lunches too. I hope you make them one of these days.
Jodee Weiland says
These rolls look absolutely delicious! I will be trying them soon!
Denise Browning says
Jodee: 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 says
Denise, i am liking the look of these! How do you think rice flour would work?
Denise Browning says
I 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 says
I fell like I can smell from here the aroma of the fresh cheese bread. Can you send me some?
Denise Browning says
Thank you, Nydia! I wish you were here to share this with you.
cquek says
My tummy is growling.
Denise Browning says
LOL…I see!!!
Sugar et al says
Gluten 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 says
I am so glad that you have enjoyed the festival and food, Sonali!
Nik@ABrownTable says
I absolutely love how you have reinvented a traditional recipe and made it all your own! Delicious.
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Nik! I do really enjoy putting my personal touch to a classic.
Elizabeth says
Denise,
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 says
Hi, 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 says
Flavorful and scrumptious! Can I come over for some?
Denise Browning says
Hi, Lail! You are very welcome to visit me and eat these rolls.
Daniela says
Mmh, 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 says
Thank you, Daniela! They are some of my favs.
Beth says
Gluten-free or not, they sound delicious!
john@kitchenriffs says
Gosh, how delish! Terrific recipe – thanks so much.
Denise Browning says
Thanks, John!
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
With 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 says
Thanks, Nami! My children enjoy pão de queijo a lot. It is their anytime bite.
Raymund says
This are nice cheesy savoury bites.
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Raymund! It is good to have you visiting us again.
Amy Tong says
Oh my! These are the cutest little Cheese Rolls I’ve ever seen. I love all the flavors and ingredients you put together. 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Amy!
Abbe @ Abbe's Cooking Antics says
Denise, 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 says
I hope you enjoy these rolls, Abbe! It is so good to have you visiting me here. xx
Liz says
Wow, 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 says
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! These rolls sound wonderful! Don’t think I have ever had savory rolls with tapioca flour!
Denise Browning says
Thank you, Shashi! I hope you enjoy them!
The Café Sucre Farine says
I love your combination of flavors here Denise! Brazil certainly has some amazing foods!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Chris!
Juliana says
I 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 says
Thanks, Juliana! My pleasure and likewise. xx
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I’m not a huge cheese fan, but I can easily down a few of this deliciousness 🙂
Denise Browning says
If you’d try, I bet you’d enjoy them. 😉
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says
What 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 says
Thanks, Julia! I hope you try these in the future.
Kate@Diethood says
Oh me gosh!! Denise, I WANT!!! These sound amazing. Something like this would never last more than 5 minutes in this house. Beautiful!!
Denise Browning says
It’s good to have you visiting FBTY again, Kate! Just like in my house: They disappear in a blink of an eye…
Gintare @Gourmantine says
They look fabulous, perfect for snack or even better party appetizer 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thank you for stopping by and for your sweet words!
Saskia Ghirotti says
These look absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to try them!
Denise Browning says
Thank you, Saskia!
Natalia@BrazilianFoodGuide says
Nossa – 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 says
Olá, 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 says
Wow, this recipe is perfect !
Denise Browning says
Thanks a lot and enjoy!
Denise Browning says
Thanks for stopping by!
Susan says
These are unbelievable!! My husband and I are enjoying them so much…. I hope there’s enough for our company!! Thank you!
Denise Browning says
Thank 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 says
Denise, 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 says
Thanks a lot, Sihi! I hope you try these rolls one of these days.
Dedy@Dentist Chef says
Nice tiny little savoury bites!!!great shoots too my friend….
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Dedy! These are one of my fave breads.
Lois Chowen says
Thank 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 says
Hi, 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!!!