There’s a new cheesy ball in town and it comes in the form of Dona Rita Brazilian Cheese Balls*. Dona Rita are a completely new brand to me as is Pão de Queijo, but if something promises to be a cheesy delight then I am all in.
Traditionally known as Pão de Queijo, these balls are made using the freshest of ingredients including cassava flour and cheese, and is a staple snack at most cafes, restaurants and dinner parties across Brazil. Thanks to this family run business, who have perfected their secret recipe, we can now bake these cheesy balls at home in as little as 20 minutes.
1 ball: 50 kcal, 1.3g sat fat, 0g sugar, 1.5g protein
Currently stocked within varying retailers in London, you maybe lucky to also be able to buy online however this is limited to varying postcodes. If you are a lucky sausage then a bag will cost you £5.00 for 15 balls. Using the ingredients that they do also means that these are gluten free and suitable for vegetarians. Huzzah!
Rounded but not perfectly so, I baked these for just over 20 minutes for them to be transformed from as pasty as me to a beautiful light golden colour. While baking they smelt so utterly inviting that I was willing them to cook quicker! They were a lot lighter in comparison to when they went into the oven I wondered if there was anything inside of them. With a crisp and slightly chewy outer it made way for a light as a feather cheesy inner. They are akin to the texture of a dough ball and taste like a really good cheese straw, and if I hadn’t read that they were gluten free I would not have had a clue. The cheese inside was punchy in flavour and had a real kick of saltiness to it which I loved. They are a perfect two bite number and are completely addictive.
It is a 10/10 from me with these Dona Rita Brazilian Cheese Balls. Delicious, cheese-tastic and they had me wanting more. They are pretty versatile – starter, side dish, snack, Dona Rita also suggest pairing them with jam or a short black coffee. I am hoping that these will quickly expand and be available near me. Move aside because there is a new baked good on the block and it is an absolute must try.
Nibbles ‘n’ Scribbles x
*A huge thank you for sending me this free sample to try. All opinions are my own