Pastel de Forno – Brazilian party and street food

In Brazil if anyone asks : ‘Would you like a pastel?’ the answer is always ‘yes!’ if you are on a diet  or not this party and popular street food is always welcome. Irresistible!  Sweet or savoury, meat or vegetarian it’s a crowd pleaser appealing to all social classes and easy to make.  They can be fried, I published the recipe here or baked. This is the baked version.
The origin of pastel is not very clear, some say it originated in Europe, Iberian peninsula, with baking recipes in the middle ages and others from traditional spring roll Chinese cuisine and Japanese gyosa. I like the idea of the later,  introduction of pastel in Brazil was made by Japanese immigrants who had to adapt to the ingredients available in Brazil in the world war II. 
Its popularity in the Brazilian culture, came through the hands of Japanese immigrants who, during World War II,  arrived in Brazil and opened several bakeries in order to pass by Chinese immigrants, consequently getting rid of the discrimination that existed at the time.  The Japanese principles of food handling and processing, which were introduced in this pastries in the end, became a big business in Brazil. This pastries are tasty, fast consumption and especially cheap.
The use of single cream in the pastry adds an extra dimension.

Yield: 30 units

Ingredients:

Filling: 
250 gr of ricotta
oregano
salt
green olives minced to taste

Mix all the ingredients really well. Reserve.

be creative with shapes

 

Pastry: 
03 cups all-purpose flour
100g of butter
salt
1/2 cup single cream
¼ cup of milk
01 tablespoon of baking
01 egg – for brushing
 
Combine flour, baking powder, salt, add the butter.
Knead adding little by little the cream and milk.
Mix the dough with fork and sprinkle the table  with flour. Knead the dough for 3 mins and
open it with a rolling pin. Cut the circles (diameter 6cm), brush the edges with water.
Fill and close-shaped the dumplings brushing with the beaten egg.
Place them on a baking sheet on top brush with egg and bake in pre-heated oven for baking. 
180C for about 15 mins. If baking from frozen you will need to bake them for 25-30mins
Serve warm.
Tip: you can freeze themand just pop into the oven as you feel like having a treat or for a party.