Coalho Cheese

Once restricted to the Northeast region of the country, this cheese is more widespread across the country nowadays. On the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states, for example, several street vendors sell logs of coalho cheese skewered and fresh grilled over hot coals right before you, usually on makeshift pits made of empty cans. Coalho cheese is made with salted, pasteurized cow’s milk pressed into blocks and then cut into logs. Because it is heat resistant, it may be barbecues or grilled before it melts completely. A classic combination: warm, grilled coalho cheese cubes drizzled molasses.