pastels, or pasteis, are typical snacks in rio de janeiro, and also popular throughout brazil - they are deep-fried pastries made with wheat flour, eggs, salt, water, butter and yeast.

their shape is either round or square and they are either  sweet or savory depending on the filling - traditional fillings include meat, cheese, ham, or shrimp .

according to history, pastels are an adaption of a traditional chinese spring roll recipe - they became a popular snack when a large wave of chinese immigrants landed in são paulo.