~549 cal · 36g protein · 78g carbs · 8g fat (estimated, per serving)
🍽️
Golden teardrop-shaped fried chicken croquettes
🇧🇷 São Paulo
Coxinha ("little thigh") is named for its shape, a nod to the chicken drumstick it once imitated for a homesick emperor’s son. Now it’s Brazil’s ubiquitous party and bakery snack, sold by the millions across São Paulo’s lanchonetes.
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Make it yours
Toggle a diet and the ingredients rewrite themselves with regional substitutes.
🥕 Vegetarian
🌱 Vegan
🌾 Gluten-Free
🥛 Dairy-Free
🥜 Nut-Free
🥚 Egg-Free
Ingredients
Serves 6 —
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1 lb chicken breast, poached and shredded
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3 cups all-purpose flour (for the dough)
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2.5 cups + 1/2 cup chicken broth + milk (for the dough)
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1 onion
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3 cloves garlic
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1 tomato
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a handful parsley (filling)
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2 eggs, beaten (for breading)
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2 cups breadcrumbs (for coating)
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as needed neutral oil, for deep frying
Instructions
1
Make the filling: sauté onion, garlic, and tomato; fold in the shredded chicken (or hearts of palm and mushrooms) and parsley; cool.
2
Make the dough: bring the broth and milk to a boil, dump in the flour all at once, and stir hard over heat until it forms a smooth ball that pulls from the pan. Cool enough to handle.
3
Flatten a piece of dough in your palm, add filling, and shape into the signature teardrop, pinching a point at the top.
4
Dip in egg (or slurry), roll in breadcrumbs.
5
Deep-fry at 350°F until deep gold, 4–5 minutes. Drain and eat hot — with hot sauce, the Paulista way.
São Paulo lanchonete tradition.
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🌏 While it simmers — know your destination
📍
São Paulo. A megacity that snacks on teardrop-shaped fried chicken.
🗺️
Brazil. A continent-sized country with an Afro-Brazilian coastal soul.
🌍
South America. Andes, Amazon, and Atlantic all on one plate.
The story behind this dish is up top — worth a read while the pot works.
👩🍳
Richard Moore & Kelsey Tucker
Recipes cooked, tested, and researched by the creators of Spin the Globe. How we build our recipes →
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