Type Custard Serving temperature Cold | Course Dessert Place of origin Brazil | |
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Main ingredients Ground coconut, sugar, egg yolks Similar Queijadinha, Brigadeiro, Cajuzinho, Olho‑de‑sogra, Cocadas | ||
Quindim ( pronunciation ) is a popular Brazilian baked dessert, made chiefly from sugar, egg yolks, and ground coconut. It is a custard and usually presented as an upturned cup with a glistening surface and intensely yellow color. The mixture can also be made in a large ring mold (like a Savarin mold) in which case it is called a "quindão" and served in slices.
Contents
O melhor quindim do mundo confiss es de uma doceira amadora
Etymology
The word quindim comes from dikende in Kikongo, a Bantu language. It means "the gestures, or demeanor, or humor characteristic of adolescent girls."
Origins
The heavy use of egg yolks is characteristic of many Portuguese sweets and pastries, such as the papo de anjo ("angel's double chin") and fios de ovos ("egg threads"). Their combination with coconut and sugar was probably created by African slaves in 17th century Brazilian Northeast, where coconuts were abundant and sugar (from sugarcane) was a major industry. The dish, as made by the Kongo people, is a cake made of fresh corn, wrapped in a banana leaf, and steamed.
In popular culture
Quindim is also a rhinoceros character (named after the dessert) featured in Monteiro Lobato's children's books.
