Do you know Coxinha?

Translated from Portuguese as "little thigh", this is the most famous and popular snack in Brazil,a breaded tasty dough filled with shredded chicken fillet full of flavour, shaped to loosely resemble a cicken drumstick.

The first reference to coxinha appears in the book by French chef Marie-Antoine Carême, known as the “king of chefs and chef of kings”. The 1844 publication talks about the croquette de poulet, a chicken croquette moulded into a pear shape. The snack also became known in Portugal, until crossing the ocean and docking in Brazilian lands where coxinha became popular.

Some gastronomy historians date the popularization of delicacies in Brazil to the beginning of the last century, when coxinha was sold near factories in São Paulo, for workers to consume at lunch or when they left work. It becomes a more cost-effective option than the commercialization of chicken thighs and drumsticks, as the 'coxinha' has greater durability and lower cost, and can be stored for longer and sold at a more affordable price.

There are several versions about the real origin of the coxinha we know today. Salty has undergone several transformations over the last century to the current version - and will continue to change with each new idea of ​​preparation and filling. It only remains to thank the various Brazilian, French and Portuguese chefs who helped create the dish. How about a coxinha, now?