ENTRY: pastel
CLASS: noun
EQUIVALENT: pastel
DEFINITION: Flat deep-fried pastry filled with ground meat, cheese, palm hearts, shredded cod or chicken etc. and served as a snack.
EXAMPLE: Crimp the edges [of the pastel] with a fork to seal.
SOURCE: The Brazilian Kitchen
COMMENT: The most appreciated pastel, usually sold at street markets ─ hence its name, 'pastel de feira' ─, is about 8 X 4-inch or larger and may even substitute a meal. It is accompanied by vinaigrette (a mixture of chopped tomatoes, onions, parsley and green onion, seasoned with salt, ground black pepper and olive oil) and pepper sauce. Bite-size pastéis (the plural form of pastel) are usually served as appetizers. A good quality pastel is crunchy and greaseless. This texture can be achieved by adding a little cachaça to the dough before deep-fry in hot oil. A baked version is called ‘pastel de forno’, a half-moon shaped turnover.