[Ren]

Coxinha - Brazilian Chicken Croquettes

Yum yum! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coxinha

A recipe for coxinha: These chicken croquettes are a popular street food from Brazil. You don't have to be a Brazilian to enjoy this chicken croquette and cream cheese combination. Traditionally coxinha is made from Catupiry cheese, but you can just replace it with cream cheese.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 litre chicken stock
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 1 carrot, finely chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 stick celery
• cream cheese
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 300 gram flour
• 1 egg
• 1 cup very finely breadcrumbs
• oil

Method

Place the carrot in a large pot. Add chicken stock until the chicken breast is covered with at least 1/2 inch of liquid. Add the carrot, half of the onion and the bay leaves.
Bring chicken stock to gentle simmer, and poach chicken until cooked or around 15 minutes. Remove chicken breast, set aside and let it cool.
Measure the chicken broth about 350ml. Add the chicken stock to the saucepan and then slowly beat in the flour and cook for about 3-5 minutes until the dough not sticks to the pan. Remove from heat and let it cool.
In a small frying pan, add 1 tablespoon oil and sweat the remaining onion for 3-5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and the celery for another 2 minutes.
Shredded the chicken breast, mixed with cream cheese, add the onion mixture. Stir to combine and season to taste.
Take a piece of the dough about the size of the golf ball. Roll it into a ball, and then flatten it into a disc. Add about 1 teaspoon chicken filling, bring up the edges all round, and carefully press the dough, so it totally encased, and shaped into a pear shape.
Whisk the eggs together in a bowl. Place the bread crumbs in a shallow pan and season it with salt and pepper. Dip the coxinhas in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs to coat. Chill the breaded coxinhas in the fridge for about 1 hour.
Fry until it gets golden brown.