Coxinha
🍖 With meat or fishThe coxinha is a classic Brazilian snack from the state of São Paulo, made of shredded chicken wrapped in dough, shaped into a teardrop, coated and deep-fried. Its name means "little thigh", a reference to its shape and filling.
History
Its origin is traced to São Paulo, and Limeira is often mentioned as the likely place where the modern processed version took shape in the nineteenth century. The earliest coxinhas could be made with any part of the chicken, and the traditional shape was meant to recall a drumstick.
Over time the snack spread from the paulista snack bars to other parts of Brazil and to border areas of Paraguay and Argentina, such as Ciudad del Este and Puerto Iguazú. Emigrants from São Paulo also took it to Portugal, where it remains a familiar reference to Brazilian food abroad.
Culture
The coxinha is an everyday snack in Brazilian lanchonetes, where it is usually sold freshly fried at the counter and often served with hot sauce. It belongs more to the midday or afternoon pause than to formal meals.
Many variations now coexist. The coxinha mineira includes corn, reflecting the culinary tradition of Minas Gerais. Cheese versions, filled with catupiry or requeijão, are very common in snack bars. In Curitiba, some restaurants serve versions with cheddar and Araucaria nuts. At home, enthusiasts experiment with peas, button mushrooms, heart of palm or unripe jackfruit, and vegetarian versions use textured soy protein or falafel.
Legend and fact
It is often said that the coxinha was created in the imperial court for a son of Count of Eu and Princess Isabel, who supposedly only ate chicken drumsticks. The anecdote appears in recipe books and storytelling, but no documents confirm it. What is better established is the snack's association with São Paulo and the link between its shape and the chicken piece that gives it its name.