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)
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 1-1/2 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 1/2 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 (Pamonha de Forno Goiana)
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
- 2-1/2 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 1/2 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 1-1/2 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
Nutrition
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
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 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thank you for stopping by, Shashi! It is always a pleasure to hear from you.
Ash-foodfashionparty says
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.
Denise Browning says
Thank you, Ash, for always stopping by.
Jennifer Bass says
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!
Denise Browning says
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!
The Café Sucre Farine says
What’s there not to like about this Denise. It looks amazing, such a star cast of ingredients!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Chris! I love the combination of the corn with the cheese and sausage.
Adele says
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.
Denise Browning says
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!
Mi Vida en un Dulce says
Delicious…!!! We also have a Tamal, very similar to the Mexican, but different. I los Latin America…!!!
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com says
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!
Denise Browning says
Thanks a lot for sharing it, Julia!
Kumar's Kitchen says
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 🙂
Denise Browning says
Thanks for your nice words, Kumar!
Liz says
Mmmmm….definitely comfort food! And so much easier than making tamales 🙂
Denise Browning says
It is true, Liz! It is much easier than the traditional dish…
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
Love Mexican tamales, Denise. Can’t wait to try these!
Denise Browning says
Enjoy, Abbe!
Deb says
What a tempting tamale casserole! Perfect for the fist whispers of fall!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Deb! This is indeed a very versatile dish!
cquek says
Super fabulous. i need to save your recipe
Denise Browning says
I hope you can make it one of these days!
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania says
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!
Denise Browning says
Thanks both for sharing and stopping by, Purabi!
Nik@ABrownTable says
Denise, this looks so delicious and unique. I love the way you garnished the top!
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Nik! Pamonha is a very traditional dish although I have made its modern version.
Coffee and Crumpets says
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
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Nazneen! It is good to have you stopping by.
Sugar et al says
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!
Denise Browning says
Thanks for letting me know, Sonali! I had no idea about that. I am so sorry for the incovenience.
Wizzy says
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.
Aimee says
Has anyone tried this on a crockpot
Denise Browning says
Not as o know Aimee! At least I didn’t. Sorry!
Nice Moraes says
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?
Denise Browning says
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!