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Brazilian Beef Pastel

A recipe for a classic Brazilian treat - the beef pastel: Pastel de Carne
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 30 pasteis
Author Travel Cook Tell

Ingredients

Dough

  • 3 cups all purpose flour + more for work surface
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp vodka
  • 1 tbsp salt

Filling

  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 hard boiled eggs chopped (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped (optional)
  • 1/2 cup olives chopped (optional)

Instructions

Dough

  • Place the flour and salt in a bowl or a working surface and make a hole in the middle. In this hole add the oil, vodka and a little water. Little by little mix dry ingredients and liquids. If the dough is too hard, add a little more water and if it's sticky add a little more flour.
  • Place the dough between 2 parchment papers and roll out with a rolling pin until it's about 1/8 of an inch thick. Cut round disc shapes (use round molds or a small bowl approximately 6 in in diameter). Place the discs between plastic wrap so they don't stick to each other.

Filling

  • In a frying pan place olive oil and onion and cook for around 2 minutes. Add ground beef and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for around 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile boil eggs, peel and chop them. Chop olives and parsley. Mix all filling ingredients.

Assembling

  • Place the filling on the dough discs (about 1 1/2 tbsp) do not overfill - there should be enough space for the filling to spread around.
  • Dip a finger in cold water and run it around the edge of the dough circle. Press edges to close the pastel with a fork.
  • Fry them in hot oil until golden brown, basting and turning them once or twice. With a slotted spoon, transfer the pastéis to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain.