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Home > Brazilian Recipes > Brazilian Fried Chicken Bites (Frango a Passarinho)

Brazilian Fried Chicken Bites (Frango a Passarinho)

February 1, 2016 by Denise Browning 18 Comments / THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE SALES LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY _FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY_ FOR DETAILS

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Brazilian fried chicken bites (frango a passarinho) are super crunchy small cuts of chicken deep fried in oil and topped with a mixture of toasted garlic, olive oil, and parsley.

Brazilian-fried-chicken-bites

What is going to be celebrated in Brazil from the 5th to 10th of this month? Carnival!!! What are we all going to be watching in the U.S. soon? The Super Bowl! With two important events on the way, Brazilian fried chicken bites are the ideal appetizer for letting you eat well while having lots of fun.

WHAT’S FRANGO A PASSARINHO?

Translated literally as ‘little birdie chicken’, frango a passarinho is a typical Brazilian appetizer consisting of small cuts of chicken marinated with lime juice and seasonings, breaded with a mixture of flour and cornmeal, and deep fried in oil.

Later on, they are topped with a mixture of toasted garlic, olive oil, and chopped parsley and served accompanied by chilled beer. They are tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside.

Brazilian-fried-chicken-bites

The funny name for the dish is due to the wide availability of a small breed of chicken at the birth of this dish many decades ago, whose small size produced cuts ideal for an appetizer.

The dish became so popular that small cuts of today’s larger chickens can now be purchased uncooked in bags at local markets in Brazil, under the same name as the dish.

Frango a passarinho is a must all year round at every bar in São Paulo, as well as many places in the rest of the country– where these chicken fried bites are served either by themselves, on a bed of salad leaves, or accompanied by French fries.

Calorie count? Forget about it!

This is a dish for pure enjoyment as these Chinese 5 Spice Wings and also these Keto Chicken Wings — whether you have been dancing like wild on the streets for hours or not…

Brazilian-fried-chicken-bites

… and you know what? Although samba may be the music that first comes to many people’s mind during this fun time of the year, it is not the only one heard across Brazil.

FRANGO A PASSARINHO AND CARNIVAL

Frevo, axé, maracatu and many other rhythms take Carnival to a whole new level. In a large, diverse country like Brazil, rhythms and costumes vary from one region to another.

In the southeastern cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, for example, samba is a tradition at huge, organized parades led by samba schools…

On the other hand, in some Northeastern cities like Recife and Olinda, frevo and maracatu (influenced by local folklore and cultural manifestations), are the main rhythms at the largest street parades, with their festive giant dolls and colorful umbrellas. But that’s not all!

 In the centuries old Northeastern city of Salvador, the public dances to the beat of Afro-Brazilian axé rhythms played by trio elétricos (mobile soundstages that are driven through the streets).

But everywhere you go, Carnival is an event of mega proportions. Appetizers such as these fried chicken bites are widely consumed, all washed down with lots of beer, guaraná soda, and other cold energy drinks.

Brazilian-fried-chicken-bites

One thing is sure: whether you are celebrating Carnival, the Super Bowl, or even no event in particular, frango a passarinho is worth a try. They will score big points with your tongue, while bringing out the happiest of songs in your mind.

Brazilian-fried-chicken-bites

Brazilian-fried-chicken-bites
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5 from 1 vote

Fried Chicken Bites (Frango a Passarinho)

Brazilian fried chicken bites (frango a passarinho) are crunchy small cuts of chicken deep fried in oil and topped with a mixture of toasted garlic, olive oil, and parsley.
Course:Appetizer
Cuisine:Brazilian
Keywords:frango a passarinho, fried chicken
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings 6
Calories585 kcal
Author Denise Browning

Ingredients

  • Fresh juice of 2 limes
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or 2 Tbsp regular yellow mustard
  • 1-½ tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 3 teaspoons ground black pepper divided
  • 5 lbs chicken skin on and cut into small pieces (or only wings, cut in the joints)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour If on a keto diet, replace for almond flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal If on a keto diet, replace for almond flour, or skip
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika optional
  • Vegetable oil enough to deep fry chicken pieces
  • 8 large garlic cloves minced
  • 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or more fresh

Instructions

  • In a large Ziploc bag, mix in lime juice, mustard, 1-½ Tablespoons salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper. Place small cuts of chicken inside, seal bag, and try to combine mixture with the chicken as much as possible. Let rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes.
  • In another large Ziploc bag, mix flour, cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and paprika if desired. Remove chicken pieces from the bag, shaking off excess marinade, and place into the flour mixture. Seal bag and shake well until all pieces are covered with flour mixture.
  • Heat the vegetable oil to 350 degrees F, shake off excess flour, and deep fry chicken in batches. Avoid overcrowding the pan. It will take about 8 minutes (wings and other small pieces) to 12 minutes (drumsticks and other alike pieces). Place fried chicken bites onto a large sheet pan lined with double paper towel to absorb excess oil.
  • Meanwhile, toast minced garlic with olive oil over medium heat in a small to medium skillet -- just until garlic starts getting lightly brown. Watch carefully! Remove pan from the heat, let cool a bit, and spoon on top of the fried chicken bites. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve by themselves or accompanied by French fries and chilled beer or other drink of your choice.

Recipe Notes

  • INACTIVE TIME: 30-60 minutes (marinade). SERVES 4-6 people.
  • STORE leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1965mg | Potassium: 495mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 5.9mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3.7mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

 

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Brazilian Recipes, Dairy-Free, Easy And Delish, Keto, Kid-Friendly, Quick & Easy Tagged With: Brazilian, Sao Paulo

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chris Scheuer

    February 2, 2016 at 11:11 am

    Yummy! I love all the flavors going on in here, lime, pepper, garlic… I would imagine it would be difficult to stop eating these!

    Reply
  2. Deb|EastofEdenCooking

    February 2, 2016 at 11:29 am

    Just scrumptious! A great alternative to the traditional wings often served for Super Bowl. I would love to go to Carnival, now that would be fun!

    Reply
  3. Amira

    February 2, 2016 at 11:59 am

    I always find garlic and lime to be a perfect combination in chicken marinades and this one looks super delicious with the addition of the other flavors as well. great job

    Reply
  4. John/Kitchen Riffs

    February 3, 2016 at 11:34 am

    I have a real weakness for fried chicken. This is perfect — I can get great crunchy flavor, but have it as an appetizer. Much more sensible than having it for the main course! Really nice — thanks.

    Reply
  5. Raymund

    February 3, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    Wow this is a perfect match with an ice cold beer, it would be a sin to eat that without a cerveza.

    Reply
  6. Nydia

    February 5, 2016 at 9:55 am

    Something that I really enjoy is eating chicken wings. I don’t why people still preferring chicken breast, if wings are more tasty and moist.

    Reply
  7. Asha

    February 5, 2016 at 9:06 pm

    This sounds so so good and the crispy top is simply divine. Chicken wings are so flavorful, love this one Denise.
    Pinned for sure.
    xx

    Reply
  8. marcela

    February 8, 2016 at 4:56 am

    Denise, you just made my mouth water… These chicken bites looks fantastic!

    Reply
  9. Anna @ shenANNAgans

    February 9, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    Dang my lady! What a delicious combo of flavours, how would you stop at just one? Bet these featured at many a superbowl party earlier this week. 🙂

    Reply
  10. Kate

    February 15, 2016 at 7:20 am

    Yum! I love the lime and dijon combination. Sounds divine!

    Reply
  11. Kim | Low Carb Maven

    February 23, 2016 at 8:32 am

    Oh, wow! I love all of the flavors going on in this dish. We are always looking for new flavor combinations for chicken and this sounds amazing. Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Denise Browning

      February 23, 2016 at 7:43 pm

      Hi, Kim! Thank you for stopping by and also for your kind words. I hope you can make this one of these days and enjoy. It’s a real family fave.

      Reply
  12. Cristina

    September 14, 2016 at 7:05 pm

    Can they be frozen in the 2nd bag?

    Reply
    • Denise Browning

      September 15, 2016 at 8:36 am

      Hello, Cristina!
      I assume you are talking about the bag containing the flour mixture. If this is the case, it is possible to freeze the chicken after pieces are coated with the flour mixture. The problem you may encounter is once thawed, the chicken pieces may loose part of their flour coating and present a few gaps/breaks once fried. If you don’t mind, go ahead and freeze the pieces. I hope this helps. Wishing you a great day. Enjoy our dish!

      Reply
      • Cristina

        September 15, 2016 at 1:58 pm

        Sim, isso que eu quis dizer. Obrigada Denise.

        Reply
        • Denise Browning

          September 15, 2016 at 2:01 pm

          De nada! Obrigada a voce. Um abraco e espero que goste do nosso frango a passarinho.

          Reply
  13. Ian

    October 20, 2019 at 5:33 am

    5 stars
    Hell yes! The best fried chicken wings and legs that I had. The garlic makes a big difference. I served with very cold beers while watching a game.

    Reply

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I'm a professional Chef with an expertise in Brazilian food. I am also a busy mom of two girls, living in Texas. Here you will find budget-friendly, healthy Brazilian and Global Recipes made Easy and Delish! I'd love to help you feed your family healthy dinners (many low carb) with a few splurges because life is all about balance! Join our community and happy cooking!

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