I wish you could taste this savory, cheesy, gluten-free low-histamine Brazilian pão de queijo-adjacent waffle

With recipe

Hey all esp. you new subscribers! (seriously, my cup runneth over).

I am back with the most delectable crunchy cheesy salty waffle that has ever waffled. Or that I have ever waffled. It is based roughly on Brazilian pão de queijo, a bready, chewy treat people in Brazil often eat with coffee. It is also not unrelated to Paraguayan chipa, but I assume that’s less well-known. In Chile we get pão de queijo (literally: cheese bread) at chain coffee shops like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. I have made the bread myself, and it is delightful. But it is also superior when eaten hot, and I am not going to heat up my whole oven just to heat up a single piece of “bread.” Also, I’m so beguiled by all the deliciousness that I can make in a waffle iron.

Traditionally the original would have a more aged cheese in it, something more akin to Parmesan. But if you are a histie like me, you’re probably going to want to go milder in the interest of not angering the histamine gods.

The main element here is tapioca starch, not to be confused with tapioca flour, which is coarse and granular. Tapioca starch is powdery like corn starch (do not substitute), low in histamines, and is sometimes found in gluten-free bread mixes, and is also what the bubbles in bubble tea are made of. Gratuitous photo of some bubble coffee I made the other day. Black tea is fermented and not so Eileen-friendly and I am a huge fan of iced coffee, so making a Frankendrink was a no-brainer.

Here is that photo.

But you came for the Frankenfood recipe. And here she is.

Gluten Free, cheesy Brazilian pão de queijo-adjacent savory waffles

Heat waffle iron

In a large bowl, mix:

100 grams (about 3 oz) of mild cheese (mozzarella would work great. I used Chilean queso mantecoso, which is similar to Muenster). I do not recommend using pre-shredded cheese re: additives.
1 cup tapioca starch
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large pinch salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk (or less, if your egg is gigantic)

Mix until uniform and scoop by the spoonful into your hot wafflemaker. Wander the kitchen pondering the delicious smell and brewing some coffee, if desired. Pop out when they are golden brown and you just can’t take it anymore.

Makes 3 waffles

Hope you enjoy!