🥟 Brazilian Beef Pastel – Crispy, Savory, and Bursting with Flavor
Get ready to fall in love with one of Brazil’s most beloved street foods — the Brazilian Beef Pastel! Crispy on the outside, juicy and flavorful on the inside, this golden-fried hand pie is everything you want in a savory snack. Whether you enjoy it at a market stand in São Paulo or make it fresh in your own kitchen, one bite of pastel is enough to transport you straight to Brazil.
What Is a Pastel?
A pastel (pronounced pahs-TELL) is a thin, flaky pastry filled with savory goodness — often beef, cheese, chicken, or heart of palm — then deep-fried until perfectly crispy. It’s a Brazilian street food staple, especially loved at open-air markets (feiras), where locals grab one fresh from the fryer, often paired with sugarcane juice (caldo de cana).
The Star of the Show: Beef Filling
This Brazilian Beef Pastel features a mouthwatering filling of seasoned ground beef, sautéed onions, garlic, and sometimes a touch of olives or hard-boiled eggs — giving it that signature Brazilian flavor. The beef mixture is tucked into thin pastry dough, sealed, and fried to golden perfection.
Each bite is a satisfying contrast of textures: the crunchy shell giving way to the warm, savory, juicy filling inside.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
🇧🇷 Authentic Brazilian flavor – tastes just like the ones from a street fair.
🥟 Crispy and golden – the perfect handheld snack or appetizer.
