Description
Coxinha, a popular Brazilian street food, is a savory croquette filled with a creamy chicken mixture and shaped like a drumstick. These crispy, golden treats are perfect for snacking or serving as a main meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4 halves)
- 4 to 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 carrot, halved
- 2 medium onions
- 2 bay leaves
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 2 to 3 cups fine breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a large pot and cover with chicken broth. Add the carrot, one peeled onion, and bay leaves. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken, set it aside to cool, then strain and reserve the broth.
- Shred the chicken into small pieces using a food processor or forks.
- Stir in the softened cream cheese and lime juice into the shredded chicken.
- In a skillet, sauté the second onion and garlic in butter until golden, then add to the chicken mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bring the reserved chicken broth to a boil, then gradually stir in flour to make a stiff dough. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat and chill for 1 hour.
- Roll the dough into golf-ball-sized portions, hollow out the center, and fill with the chicken mixture. Shape into a drumstick-like shape and arrange on a baking sheet.
- Whisk eggs in one bowl, and place breadcrumbs in another. Dip each coxinha into the egg, then coat with breadcrumbs. Chill for 1 hour.
- Heat vegetable oil in a pot to 360°F. Fry the coxinhas in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes per batch.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Start the recipe a day ahead for best results.
- Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes after it has cooled to ensure smoothness.
- Check for any cracks in the dough before breading to prevent them from splitting while frying.
- Season breadcrumbs with salt and pepper before coating the coxinhas.
- Keep batches small when frying to ensure even cooking.
- Prep Time: 70 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Appetizers, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Brazilian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 coxinha
- Calories: 472 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 703mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Coxinha, Brazilian Chicken Croquettes, Fried Chicken, Brazilian street food, savory croquettes, chicken croquettes recipe