After my first year of living in Brazil, I've put together a list of some of the absolute fav foods in Brazil that you can make at home! Get ready for drooling!
When it comes to the fav foods in Brazil, it's about tradition, flavor, simplicity, and love. The recipes on this list range from appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. So no matter what you are looking for, I just know you will find several to add to your list!
The best thing is that while I moved with my family to Brazil and then started learning these recipes, you don't have to go far at all! This is a great place to start. I have given you all of the inspiration, tips on where to get the ingredients and recommendations for substitutes when needed. I have also really walked you through in detail, the process for how to make each of these delicious dishes.
3 Principles of Brazilian Cuisine
During my first year in Brazil, I have spoken with both home cooks and chefs, visited many restaurants, and researching the food and it's history. From all of this (acknowledging there is still much more to learn), I have found three key principles to be true for traditional Brazilian food and recipes.
- First is that the traditional dishes and recipes focus on fresh ingredients and what is abundant in the area. This means, using what they have locally as the main ingredients in cooking. This is true across proteins, vegetables, herbs, and spices. For example, rather than potatoes, you will see local ingredients such as yuca used in many stews, purees, mashes, or even baked goods.
- Brazilian food lets the flavor of the main ingredient stand out! While there are common flavorings, seasonings, and herbs that are added to recipes, it all about keeping it simple so the true flavor of the fresh food shines through. For example, when it comes to beef, coarse salt is king. There is rarely a time where the meat is seasoning with a ton of other seasonings.
- Finally, food tradition means love and and there is a loyalty to the traditional foods. At most family events, you will the traditional foods of pao de queijo, coxinha, picanha, and more.
Be sure to check all of the Brazilian and Brazilian-inspired recipes on this site! But, here are 10 of the top favorite foods in Brazil!
Jump to:
Fav Foods in Brazil
1. Feijoada ~ a traditional and Favorite Meal
First up on the list is Feijoada, a traditional Brazilian national dish of black bean and meat thick stew and meal. Brazilians consume large amounts of rice and beans. So, this a staple throughout Brazil and a great way to use humble and inexpensive ingredients to feed a lot of people. Family lunches and dinners are often centered around a meal of feijoada.
The beans , or feijão, are cooked with different cuts of pork, sausages, beef, cilantro, onions, and lots of garlic. The beans become soft and creamy, the sausage is salty and meaty, and the beef is succulent.
While beans and rice are found with most Brazilian barbeques, or churrascos, and other buffet meals, Feijoada is the bean and meat stew that is served with rice and lots of other traditional Brazilian dishes. Some of these sides are Sauteed Kale with Bacon and Garlic {Couve a Mineira}, Brazilian Cheese Bread ~ Pāo de queijo, and Farofa. But just the bean stew and rice are enough to satisfy any crowd!
2. Brigadeiros! Brazilian Chocolate Dessert Truffles
Next up are Brigadeiros, my daughter's favorite food here. This Brazilian Chocolate Truffle recipe is so easy, you will not believe it! Just a few ingredients including condensed milk and cocoa powder are needed. Brigadeiros are chocolatey, fudgy, soft, and chewy small balls that are rolled in chocolate sprinkles for a divine little sweet bite. They are one of the most popular foods and traditional Brazilian desserts. You can find in every chocolate shop, pastry store, restaurants, and in homes.
Brigadeiros have been slowly making their way as a new trend in urban areas in the United States. However, they are still relatively unknown. So, let's get the word out! These chocolate fudge balls are a sweet taste of heaven that EVERYONE with a sweet tooth should try!
3. Coconut Shrimp Stew ~ Moqueca de Camarão
This Coconut Brazilian Shrimp Stew recipe is inspired by Moqueca de Camarão, which is one of the many traditional delicious recipes in Brazil. It's a thick, creamy, and hearty stew with coconut milk, chunks of hearty vegetables and succulent shrimp that will ignite your taste buds.
It starts with the shrimp that are perfectly seared to give the dish it's base flavor. Then garlic, onion, and green pepper are added for aromatics and deep flavor. The seasonings, as with most Brazilian food, are simple but flavorful. Traditionally, it's made with dende oil, a palm oil that gives it the distinctive color and flavor. However, you can also make it with olive oil.
Cumin, cilantro, and lime juice bring smoky and acidic notes. Finally diced tomatoes, coconut milk, and broth give the stew it's creamy, tangy, and full finish. Serve this great recipe with Brazilian Rice and it's a wonderful dinner!
4. Pão de Queijo
With the exception of Brigadeiros, Pāo de queijo, or gluten free Brazilian Cheese Bread balls (also called Brazilian Cheese buns, or as I call them, 'Little bites of love') are perhaps the most popular food to come out of Brazil. And it's no surprise!! These warm little cheese rolls that are crispy on the outside and cheesy and gooey on the inside are absolutely delicious.
Pão de queijo, which translates directly into bread of cheese, originated in Brazil. You can find them in just about every home, bakeries, grocery stores, many restaurants, food vendors, and even in global chains that have expanded to Brazil, such as Starbucks.
With the soft and chewy texture and cheesy salty flavor, you start and just cannot stop. And they are gluten free, so if you are on a gluten-free diet or that happens to be a benefit to you, there you go! There are packages of the cheese bread mix that you can buy with powdered cheese. However, once you see how easy this is with items from your own grocery store, you will never turn back.
5. Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff Recipe
This Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff Recipe, called Estrogonofe de Frango in Portuguese, is one of the more popular dishes in Brazilian, at least in Sao Paulo. It’s base is a garlic flavored tomato sauce with chicken broth, mushrooms, cilantro, and cream to give the sauce that beautiful pink-orange color. It’s served over rice, which soaks up all of the delicious sauce.
You might be saying, ‘well, that doesn’t look like Stroganoff’. And the truth is, that’s what I said too. It's not the brown-beef-and-mushroom-sour-cream-sauce version that my Mom always made in the midwest. But this, my friends, is Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff and it is delicious!
There are a few key differences vs. it’s Russian beef stroganoff cousin. Rather than beef broth and a brown mushroom sauce, it’s base is tomato sauce and chicken broth. I kept the mushrooms in my version. Then half and half (my variation on the traditional heavy cream) is added vs. sour cream to the sauce to give it that beautiful pink-orange color.
Finally, it’s served over rice rather than the egg noodles and garnished with potato sticks, or batata palha, on top! Definitely a one of my fav foods brazil.
6. Coxinha ~ Chicken Croquettes
Brazilian Coxinha are Chicken Croquettes that are crunchy on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside. They are a traditional savory pastry item that you see all over in Brazil. These have a savory chicken, and cheese filling with onion, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno and more! The flavor is amazing!
On the outside, you actually have two layers. First the filling is wrapped up in a pastry dough. Second, the coxinha are dredged in egg and breadcrumbs. Finally, they are deep fried to cook entirely through and get golden brown and crispy crunchy on the outside.
Coxinha in Portuguese means little thigh, so this pastry is called coxinha because the shape resembles a chicken thigh. They are found at pastry shops, bakeries, restaurants, and of course in home kitchens. You will especially see them with other traditional dishes, like Brigadeiros, Brazilian Chocolate Desserts at birthdays, holidays, or other celebrations.
7. Brazilian Potato Salad ~ Salada de maionese
Since moving to Brazil, I've been pleasantly surprised by two things that make me feel like I have found my people. One, when the temperature hits 50 degreed, the winter coats come out! My kids always made fun of me for this in the US. Two, mayonnaise is loved here! Salada de maionese is the name of the this Brazilian Potato Salad. That's right, the name doesn't even mention potato, just mayonnaise! I'm telling you, these are my people!
Creamy, hearty, fresh, and delicious, this Brazilian Potato Salad is a unique version that you will absolutely love! What makes the Brazilian recipe different is that you see carrots, olives, and cilantro. They bring salty and fresh bright flavor that you normally do not get in a the American version.
The carrots are terrific for crunch and the scallions bring that slight onion note. The dressing is the familiar mayonnaise-based goodness you know. You will fall in love with this side dish and add it to any dinner, picnic, or barbeque menu!
8. Brazilian Pastel recipe
Get ready for the most delicious, flaky, crispy, savory, fried pastry pockets found on Brazilian beaches, in restaurants, at street fairs, parties, and more! This is the traditional Brazilian Pastel Recipe! Pasteis (the plural of pastel in Portuguese) are light, thinly rolled pastry dough pockets filled with a variety of ingredients, but most notably with cheese (queijo) and/or beef. This version of the popular street food is the simple, but flavorful ground beef filling with just a few perfect seasonings.
The pastry is fried until it puffs and bubbles for the most beautiful flaky and crispy crust. The inside of the crust gets these amazing soft layers and then the filling is hot and delicious.
9. Brazilian Picanha Steak
Picanha is hands-down the best and most popular cut of meat in Brazil and this Brazilian Picanha recipe is one to try as the main dish at your next dinner. This is one of the absolute fav foods in Brazil. It's a particular cut of beef that comes from the top of the rump. It's also known as the top sirloin cap and comes with the fat cap still on. That fat cap, or thick layer of fat, is what helps to give this steak so much amazing flavor.
Sirloin Cap with Fat Cap (Picanha) - These will usually come in 2-3 pound cuts, all of which is great for this recipe. As mentioned, Picanha is also known as the top sirloin cap, rump cover, or rump cap and comes with the fat cap still on. You will not likely find this readily available in your grocery store, but you can ask your butcher for it. Often, butchers will cut it into other steaks, so it may not be available. I ordered mine through ChopBox. Find out more on this under the blog post section Recipe Tips and Where to Buy.
10. Pudim ~ Brazilian Flan Recipe
Do you have that one family member that says 'no' to chocolate desserts? Well, this is the answer and if you have never had Pudim, you are in for a special treat today! This Brazilian Flan recipe, or Pudim (pronounced pu-jeem), is an impressive dessert and a crowd pleaser in both appearance and taste! It's perfect for your family of 2 or 4 or a special occasion or party. This dessert is a popular choice in Brazil and does not disappoint.
Brazilian Pudim or Flan is a traditional creamy custard dessert. It takes minutes to prepare, but a lot of patience to wait for it to set. It's baked upside down with caramel sauce poured first into the pan. Then an easy blender-made custard is poured over the caramel and it's baked.
After setting in the refrigerator overnight (did I mention you need patience???), it's turned out upside down on to a platter so the bottom becomes the top of the flan. It's the most beautiful presentation with decadent caramel sauce dripping all over the top and sides. The Flan or Pudim is a super creamy, rich, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious custard with sweet caramel in every bite!
There are so many Fav Foods from Brazil!
Here are just a few more favorites, including Salpicão, a mayonnaise-based salad, and couve, which is a leafy green vegetable (usually cabbage, collard greens, or kale) sauteed with garlic and pork.
More Favorite Desserts!
I have to say that desserts are not necessarily the focus in Brazil, they do them well! Here are some more of my fav foods in brazil!
Leave a Reply