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Queijo coalho assado
Grilled squeaky cheese skewers
Queijo coalho assado: squeaky coalho cheese grilled on skewers, brushed with sugarcane molasses or oregano
Along the beaches of Recife, Porto de Galinhas and Fortaleza, vendors walk the sand with a small charcoal brazier, toasting sticks of coalho cheese to order. Coalho is a firm, salty curd cheese that holds its shape over the heat, so it browns and blisters on the outside while the inside turns soft and squeaky. Buyers choose it plain, sprinkled with dried oregano, or drizzled with dark sugarcane molasses for a salty-sweet bite. At home it works on a barbecue, a ridged griddle or under a hot grill, and makes a good starter for a churrasco. Most coalho is made with animal rennet, so look for one labelled vegetarian or with microbial rennet, or use a vegetarian halloumi. Everyone's first error is turning the cheese too soon: it tears and sticks until a crust has formed. Chef's tip: pat the sticks dry and brush the grill, not the cheese, with oil, so the crust forms quickly and releases cleanly.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz queijo coalhoin 8 sticks; check for microbial rennet, or use vegetarian halloumi
- 1 tsp neutral oilfor the grill
To finish (choose one or both)
- 3 tbsp sugarcane molasses (melaço) (optional)or dark treacle loosened with a little water
- 1 tsp dried oregano (optional)
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Soak 8 wooden skewers in water for 10 minutes if you are using them, then push one lengthways into each stick of 14 oz queijo coalho. Pat the cheese dry with kitchen paper.
10 minStep 2: Heat a barbecue, ridged griddle pan or grill to a high heat and brush the bars with 1 tsp neutral oil. The pan is ready when a drop of water skitters across it.
Step 3: Lay the skewers on the grill and leave them for 2–3 minutes without moving, until the underside is golden brown with dark marks and lifts away easily.
3 minStep 4: Turn and cook the other sides for 2 minutes each, until browned all over and the cheese feels soft when pressed but has not melted.
5 minStep 5: Drizzle with 3 tbsp sugarcane molasses (melaço) or sprinkle with 1 tsp dried oregano and eat at once, while the cheese is hot and squeaky.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 21 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 24 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does queijo coalho assado take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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