Verdict
Per 100 g, coxinha has 283 kcal vs 388 kcal for the beef pastel, and almost half the fat (11.8 g vs 20.1 g). The reason is the dough: pastel dough is thin and gets crispy by soaking up a lot of oil, while coxinha dough is moister. Protein is tied (9.6 g vs 10.1 g). Neither is diet food, but if you're picking one, coxinha weighs less. And cheese pastel is even higher in calories than beef.
When to choose Coxinha
- You're having one snack and want the lower-calorie, lower-fat option.
- You want a little more satiety — coxinha dough has more fiber.
When to choose Beef pastel
- It's market day, it's Sunday, it's a pastel: fit it into the day's plan instead of banning it.
- Tip: one pastel has the calories of a small meal — balance it in the rest of the day.
Values per 100 g of ready-to-eat food, from the Brazilian Food Composition Table (TACO) and USDA FoodData Central. They vary by brand, cut and preparation. Educational estimates, not individual nutrition advice.