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    Home > Brazilian Recipes

    Published: Aug 28, 2013 · Modified: Jan 8, 2019 by Denise Browning · "This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission." · 36 Comments

    Pamonha de Forno Goiana (Brazilian Tamale Casserole)


    Jump to Recipe ↓

    Pamonha de Forno Goiana (or Brazilian Tamale Casserole) is a variation of a classic made from corn, sausage, and cheese. A gluten-free dish ideal for lazy days! (LINK  para receita em português)

    Brazilian Tamale Casserole (Pamonha de Forno Goiana) -- Naturally gluten-free, economical, and beyond comforting!!!

    Ah, tamales... Who can keep from going crazy over such a delicacy?! I know, tamales are a Mexican dish -- but Brazil also has its own version. 

    I bet you didn't know that! So a Brazilian Tamale Casserole or Pamonha de Forno Goiana  is the dish that I am sharing with you today. 

    This is the modern version of the traditional, corn husk-wrapped Brazilian tamale or pamonha. 

    It is naturally gluten-free and as delicious as the traditional dish, but much quicker and easier to prepare. Oh, it is comfort food on my plate!!!

    As Wikipedia explains:

    "Pamonha (Portuguese pronunciation: [paˈmõȷ̃ɐ]) is a traditional Brazilian food. It is a paste made from fresh corn and milk, boiled wrapped in corn husks, turned into a dumpling. Variations may include coconut milk. Pamonhas can be savoury or sweet, the latter being the norm in Northeastern Brazil and in the state of Rio de Janeiro. They can be filled with cheese, sausage, minced meat, minced chicken, pepper, or served plain. Roadside restaurants specializing in pamonha and other corn dishes are common in Northeast Region Brazil.

    The name pamonha comes from Old Tupi language pa'muña meaning "sticky."' 

    I could have not explained it better!!!

    Our modern, baked version is made from yellow corn as well, and filled with cheese and sausage. It is an economical, versatile dish since it can be eaten anytime of the day. Ready?! Let's cook this baby together.

    HOW TO MAKE BRAZILIAN TAMALE CASSEROLE (PAMONHA DE FORNO GOIANA)

    Preheat oven to 325º F ( 163 º C). Fill half of a larger baking pan with boiling water (this will serve as the bain-marie bath).

    In a blender, blend together the corn, milk, eggs, bouillon powder, salt, and pepper until obtaining a homogeneous, creamy mixture. 

    Grease the bottom and sides of a 12 x 7-inch ovenproof dish ( 30.5 x 18 cm) and pour in half of the blended mixture.

    Distribute the cooked sausage slices and 1 cup of the shredded cheese over the mixture.

    Pour over this the remaining blended mixture, reserving the remaining 1-½ cups of shredded cheese for later.

    Bake in bain-marie for about 40-45 minutes or until center is firm yet jiggly. Remove from oven and top casserole with the reserved cheese.

    Increase oven temperature to 350º F (about 180º C) and bake casserole (no more bain-marie but dry-air heat oven) for about 5 minutes -- just enough for the cheese melt. 

    Let cool down a bit and serve warm!

    If you are a fan of heat, you are welcome to add ½ to 1 chopped jalapeño to the casserole when you fill with the sausage and cheese.

    You can also add chopped fresh herbs to the topping right before serving (I topped mine with fresh thyme). 

    Both  jalapeño and herbs are not customary ingredients in traditional Pamonha.

    Differences between Mexican Tamale and Brazilian Tamale

    The basic differences between the Mexican tamale and the Brazilian pamonha are:

    1. Tamales are made from masa (a starchy dough, hominy-based) while pamonha is made from fresh yellow corn.

    2. Tamales are wrapped in dry corn husks, while traditionally pamonha is wrapped in fresh corn husks (although our recipe is not wrapped but baked in the oven).

    3. Tamales are usually steamed, while the traditional pamonha is boiled.

    The similarity between them lies in the fact that both tamales and pamonha can be either savory or sweet. Since I have already made a sweet Pamonha Cake last year, our recipe for today is a savory version.

     

     

    Brazilian tamale casserole in a red dish
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    Brazilian Tamale Casserole (Pamonha de Forno Goiana)

    Brazilian Tamale Casserole (or Pamonha de Forno Goiana) is a modern, savory  version of the traditional, corn husk-wrapped Brazilian tamale or pamonha, filled with cheese and sausage.  It is naturally gluten-free and is as delicious as the traditional dish, but much quicker and easier to prepare.  Pure comfort on a plate!!
    Course:Entree
    Cuisine:Brazilian
    Keywords:pamonha de forno, tamale casserole
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 50 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour
    Servings 6
    Calories350 kcal
    Author Denise Browning

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups yellow corn fresh or canned (if you are using canned corn, please drain off all the water very well)
    • 8.5 fl oz (250 ml) whole milk
    • 4 large eggs at room temperature
    • 1 tablespoon Knorr vegetable or chicken bouillon powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 pinch ground black pepper
    • 7 oz (200 g) smoked pork sausage sliced in rounds, quartered, and cooked according to the instructions from the package
    • 2-½ cups shredded cheese mozzarella or any other that melts well.  I prepared mine with Fiesta cheese blend**

    ** Although cubed cheese is usually added to the traditional pamonha goiana recipe, I do prefer to use shredded cheese in the casserole.

      Note: If you are a fan of heat, you are welcome to add ½ to 1 chopped jalapeño to the casserole when you fill with the sausage and cheese.   You can also add chopped fresh herbs to the topping right before serving (I topped mine with fresh thyme).  Both  jalapeño and herbs are not customary ingredients in traditional Pamonha.

        Instructions

        • Preheat oven to 325º F ( 163 º C).  Fill half of a larger baking pan with boiling water (this will serve as the bain-marie bath).
        • In a blender, blend together the corn, milk, eggs, bouillon powder, salt, and pepper until obtaining a homogeneous, creamy mixture.  
        • Grease the bottom and sides of a 12 x 7-inch ovenproof dish ( 30.5 x 18 cm) and pour in half of the blended mixture. Distribute the cooked sausage slices and 1 cup of the shredded cheese over the mixture.
        •   Pour over this the remaining blended mixture, reserving the remaining 1-½ cups of shredded cheese for later.
        • Bake in bain-marie for about 40-45 minutes or until center is firm yet jiggly.  Remove from oven and top casserole with the reserved cheese. 
        •  Increase oven temperature to 350º F (about 180º C) and bake casserole (no more bain-marie but dry-air heat oven) for about 5 minutes -- just enough for the cheese melt. Let cool down a bit and serve warm!

        Recipe Notes

        Note: If you are a fan of heat, you are welcome to add ½ to 1 chopped jalapeño to the casserole when you fill with the sausage and cheese.   You can also add chopped fresh herbs to the topping right before serving (I topped mine with fresh thyme).  Both  jalapeño and herbs are not customary ingredients in traditional Pamonha.

        Nutrition

        Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 152mg | Sodium: 975mg | Potassium: 473mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 715IU | Vitamin C: 7.3mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 1.5mg

        ** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

        Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

        DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.

         

        Brazilian Tamale Casserole (Pamonha de Forno Goiana) -- Naturally gluten-free, economical, and beyond comforting!!!

         

        « Cocada Cremosa de Banana (Banana-Coconut Pudding)
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        Filed Under: Brazilian Recipes Tagged With: Brazilian Cuisine, linquiça, pamonha de forno, queijo

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        Reader Interactions

        Comments

        1. Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says

          August 28, 2013 at 1:15 pm

          This "Pamonha de Forno Goiana" looks so creamy! I had no clue that Brazil had it's own version of a tamale
          Thanks so much for sharing 🙂

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 28, 2013 at 1:32 pm

            Thank you for stopping by, Shashi! It is always a pleasure to hear from you.

            Reply
        2. Ash-foodfashionparty says

          August 28, 2013 at 4:05 pm

          Yet another introduction to a unique dish but something we are a bit familiar with. thanks for sharing all the information and the dish sounds yummy.

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 28, 2013 at 7:18 pm

            Thank you, Ash, for always stopping by.

            Reply
        3. Jennifer Bass says

          August 28, 2013 at 6:24 pm

          I have a dear friend who lives in Goiania and her mother makes wonderful pamonha! I know it takes a lot of work so I am happy to have his recipe. I love things that remind me of Brasil!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 28, 2013 at 7:17 pm

            Thanks, Jennifer! Welcome to FBTY!!! I hope you have the chance to try this baked version. This recipe is much easier and quicker than the traditional pamonha. Although I love both the traditional and baked versions (sweet and savory), my favorite of them all is the Pamonha Cake. It's something that everyone should make it: http://www.frombraziltoyou.org/brazilian-recipes/gluten-free-sticky-corn-cake-pamonha-de-forno/ Have a great evening and thanks for stopping by!

            Reply
        4. The Café Sucre Farine says

          August 28, 2013 at 8:02 pm

          What's there not to like about this Denise. It looks amazing, such a star cast of ingredients!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 12:19 am

            Thanks, Chris! I love the combination of the corn with the cheese and sausage.

            Reply
        5. Adele says

          August 28, 2013 at 9:09 pm

          Hi Denise,

          I was born in Goiania a long time ago. And I still make minha pamonha assado ou cozida na palha aqui na America.Sao pratos e tradicoes que nos acompanham para onde vamos.Gostas de curau de miilho verde? E sobre o nosso famoso "Empadao de Goias" ja ouviu falar?? tente se puder entrar na historia e culinaria da cidade de Goias e da nossa poetisa CORA CORALINA. Obrigada por me fazer viajar sem sair do lugar.

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 12:11 am

            My pleasure, Adele! Thanks for stopping by...I love when my people visit me here. Yes, I have heard about empadao goiano e Cora Coralina. I love curau de milho but we call it canjica in my Northeast region. I grew up eating it... It is so creamy and comforting for me. I am looking forward to featuring here an empadao recipe in the future. I don't know if it will be possible to make the goiano one b/c of the guariroba. I've never seen here in the US. Well, at least I can talk about it a bit. Have a great day!

            Reply
        6. Mi Vida en un Dulce says

          August 28, 2013 at 9:47 pm

          Delicious...!!! We also have a Tamal, very similar to the Mexican, but different. I los Latin America...!!!

          Reply
        7. Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says

          August 28, 2013 at 11:49 pm

          Denise, this looks amazing! You're right, this is an absolutely perfect comfort food, at its best. Look at that mixture of pork sausage, shredded cheese - all together with a whole bunch of corn baked until still a bit jiggly! Oh mine, pinned!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 12:18 am

            Thanks a lot for sharing it, Julia!

            Reply
        8. Kumar's Kitchen says

          August 29, 2013 at 3:56 am

          such a sunny casserole,have had tamales before but never thought they can be so beautiful as a casserole dish as well,very well presented and a lovely dish 🙂

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 6:51 am

            Thanks for your nice words, Kumar!

            Reply
        9. Liz says

          August 29, 2013 at 7:22 am

          Mmmmm....definitely comfort food! And so much easier than making tamales 🙂

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 7:23 pm

            It is true, Liz! It is much easier than the traditional dish...

            Reply
        10. Abbe@This is How I Cook says

          August 29, 2013 at 9:18 am

          Love Mexican tamales, Denise. Can't wait to try these!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 7:22 pm

            Enjoy, Abbe!

            Reply
        11. Deb says

          August 29, 2013 at 10:30 am

          What a tempting tamale casserole! Perfect for the fist whispers of fall!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 7:22 pm

            Thanks, Deb! This is indeed a very versatile dish!

            Reply
        12. cquek says

          August 29, 2013 at 11:47 am

          Super fabulous. i need to save your recipe

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 7:21 pm

            I hope you can make it one of these days!

            Reply
        13. Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania says

          August 29, 2013 at 12:32 pm

          I loved this Brazilian version of Tamales. This is such a wonderful comfort food!! Your photography was holding me over for a while! Corn and sausages in a casserole...the very thought of it is making me drool! Pinned it!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 7:21 pm

            Thanks both for sharing and stopping by, Purabi!

            Reply
        14. Nik@ABrownTable says

          August 29, 2013 at 1:57 pm

          Denise, this looks so delicious and unique. I love the way you garnished the top!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 29, 2013 at 7:20 pm

            Thanks, Nik! Pamonha is a very traditional dish although I have made its modern version.

            Reply
        15. Coffee and Crumpets says

          August 29, 2013 at 11:51 pm

          I do like tamales. I like how this one is easier than making tamales individually. Looks super delicious with the corn and the sausage, creamy, sweet and salty. Yum!

          Nazneen

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 30, 2013 at 12:26 am

            Thanks, Nazneen! It is good to have you stopping by.

            Reply
        16. Sugar et al says

          September 02, 2013 at 7:03 am

          Oh wow! You come up with such amazing recipes Denise. I am falling in love with Brazilian cuisine. And your pictures are so beautiful...my mouth is watering at the sight of this Casserole. Love it!
          P.S : I was not able to read or comment on your posts for some time. Made several attempts last week. Every time I click on a title, it takes me to a page called Reddit. Today, when I tried, it went through. Wondering what could be the issue!

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            September 02, 2013 at 9:04 am

            Thanks for letting me know, Sonali! I had no idea about that. I am so sorry for the incovenience.

            Reply
        17. Wizzy says

          September 25, 2013 at 4:49 pm

          Another dish that is familiar to me yet different at the same time.We also make a tamale pie and something similar to tamales except that they are wrapped in banana leaves, not corn husks.

          Reply
        18. Aimee says

          July 30, 2018 at 8:39 pm

          Has anyone tried this on a crockpot

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            July 30, 2018 at 10:58 pm

            Not as o know Aimee! At least I didn't. Sorry!

            Reply
        19. Nice Moraes says

          August 07, 2018 at 10:38 pm

          Denise please I live in Florida, what’s the name of a corn brasilians use for pamonha? I know that corn where you buy in supermarkets is sweet and the pamonha doesn’t became together, where can I buy the right ones?

          Reply
          • Denise Browning says

            August 08, 2018 at 6:10 pm

            Hi, Nice! For this recipe you can use the regular American corn (fresh or canned). But to make the traditional pamonha you would have to find what they call here "dent corn" which contains more starch and less sugar, exactly like ours in Brazil. I have tried to make the traditional pamonha several times using cornstarch and even different cooking methods (for example, steaming instead of boiling) but neither way worked well. Here in San Antonio, TX I have not found dent corn so far unfortunately. I hope you can find where you live. Thank you for visiting us!

            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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