Oliveira de Azeméis Carrot Queijadinhas
Also known as: Oliveira de Azeméis Carrot Queijadinhas · Portuguese Carrot Queijadas
Small shell-free queijadas with no cheese, moist with carrot and scented with orange and cinnamon.
- Origin
- Oliveira de Azeméis · Aveiro District
- Region
- Oliveira de Azeméis
- Season
- Year-round
Oliveira de Azeméis Carrot Queijadinhas are small orange cakes made with cooked puréed carrot, sugar, orange zest, a little flour, fat and separated eggs. The batter goes straight into small moulds: there is no pastry shell, cheese, coconut or frosting.
Despite the name “queijadinha”, the published local formula contains no cheese. Here the term chiefly describes the small, low individual format. Whipped egg whites lighten a batter that remains moist and tender because of its generous proportion of carrot.
- carrot
- sugar
- orange zest
- butter or margarine
- flour
- eggs
- cinnamon
- salt
Moist and delicate, with clean carrot sweetness, bright orange aroma and a warm cinnamon undertone.
Some Portuguese recipes with the same name add coconut, condensed milk or almonds. Those ingredients are not part of the local formula documented here. These should not be confused with cheese queijadas or carrot tartlets baked in a pastry shell.
Look for them in pastry shops, food showcases and cultural events in Oliveira de Azeméis municipality. Because this local speciality is less standardised than nationally distributed products, check availability before making a special trip.
Espresso, black tea or orange-peel tea.
Oliveira de Azeméis's Municipal Culture Plan identifies carrot queijadinhas among the municipality's regional pastry specialities, alongside zamacóis, Beijinhos de Azeméis and caladinhos. The local parish union also includes them in its food guide.
The locally published recipe gives them a very specific identity: carrot, orange and cinnamon, with only a little flour and no cheese. As with many home-baked sweets, mould size and the degree of browning can vary from one kitchen to another.
Sources: arquivo.cm-oaz.pt · ufoaz.pt · gastronomiaoaz.weebly.com · vaqueiro.pt
Pastries from here — The North
Portuguese icon A Bella Queijadinha de Barcelos
A white star of almond, preserved fruit and family memory.
The North
Portuguese icon Sweet Vermicelli
Fine wheat threads simmered in milk and yolk, scored with cinnamon.
The North
Portuguese icon Alféloa
Sugar and molasses pulled by hand until they lighten.
The North
Portuguese icon Amarantinos
Small egg, lemon and cinnamon cakes from Amarante's convent table.
The North