Brazil has such a rich heritage with influences from European, African, and Asian countries, and it shows in the cuisine. No trip to South America is complete without sampling all of Brazil’s regional dishes. Since it may be a while before you can travel to this gorgeous country, these easy Brazilian recipes are the next best thing!
1. Feijoada
You can’t have a list of Brazilian recipes and not include feijoada, which is considered Brazil’s national dish. It’s a slow-cooked black bean stew bursting with flavor. You’ll want to start your preparations early, as the meat and beans need to soak for up to 24 hours. Adding orange to this recipe might seem weird, but it doesn’t make the whole dish taste like oranges. Fun fact: the orange helps get rid of the excess fat! Cool trick, huh? Make it on the stove, in a crockpot, or your instant pot. Traditionally, it’s served with rice, collard greens, and farofa (which we’ll talk about later).
2. Brazilian Cheese Bread
Known as pao de queijo, this Brazilian cheese bread is gooey and chewy, the perfect addition to any meal. It’s like no other gluten-free treat you’ve tasted before! Since it uses tapioca flour and doesn’t require yeast, the texture is extremely light and can be described as a cheesy puff instead of bread. This cheese bread is so effortless, someone who has zero cooking experience can whip up a delicious batch. I won’t judge if these airy cheese bites don’t even make it to the table!
3. Brazilian Fish Stew
Brazilian fish stew is very similar to curry. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a breeze to whip on those busy nights. The tomato coconut sauce is creamy, while the lime keeps this dish refreshing. Fragrant spices like cilantro, cayenne, and garlic add so much flavor. Include your favorite fish filets like tilapia or snapper. Serve over rice or on its own with a side salad. This is sure to be a repeat meal!
4. Brazilian Tapioca
Similar to a pancake or flatbread, Brazilian tapioca is consumed daily with butter, cheese, jam, meat — anything you can think of! Brazilian tapioca is easy to make, and only three ingredients are required. Although the process is certainly different than other recipes. It requires making tapioca gum by soaking tapioca flour in water, drying it out, and sifting. This is what you’ll fry to get your Brazilian tapioca. Make it savory or sweet by your choice of toppings.
5. Baked Brazilian Pineapple
Brazil is known for incorporating many different types of fruit into its cuisine. Baked Brazilian pineapple is just one way to devour this juicy fruit. A buttery brown sugar glaze balances out the tartness of the pineapple. It caramelizes while baking, producing the most incredible treat. The cinnamon aroma wafting through your house will entice everyone to try it, but the mouth-watering flavor will have them asking for seconds. Feel free to experiment with different flavors and experience all pineapple has to offer.
6. Brazilian Lemonade
Don’t be alarmed, but Brazilian lemonade is actually made with limes. Many parts of the world make their lemonade with limes, so it’s actually not too weird. I guarantee you won’t care about what it’s called after taking your first sip. It’s refreshing and sweet with a smoothie-like texture. The key to Brazilian lemonade is leaving on the peel! It’s strained, so don’t worry about big chunks. The sweetened condensed milk cancels out the bitterness from the peel, leaving you with a creamy treat you can’t resist!
7. Brazilian Picadillo
Brazilian picadillo is extremely popular in Brazil. It’s called “ensopado de carninha moida com azeitona,” which means juicy ground beef with olives. It’s a beloved dish due to being delicious, effortless, and quick to make. A plethora of spices are combined to make this classic dish, including cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. Olives contribute to its saltiness while red wine vinegar gives a welcoming tang. It’s traditionally served over rice, but I can see it being delicious with pasta or a tortilla!
8. Brazilian Coconut Ball
Only four ingredients are needed to make these delicious and sinfully sweet Brazilian coconut balls. In Brazil, they’re called “beijinho de coco,” which translates into coconut little kiss. Sweetened condensed milk, dried coconut, and butter are heated in a pan until thick. Then it’s time for the fun part! Grab a handful and start forming the ball. Generously coat each one in sugar. These are a staple at most children’s birthday parties in Brazil!
9. Brazilian Rice
While it might seem as though cooking rice needs no explanation, Brazilian rice is made a little differently. Cooking rice is like an art form in some parts of the world. You don’t just add water and cook. Brazilian rice is first sautéed with vegetable oil, onions, and garlic, allowing the fragrant flavors to infuse while cooking. Follow this cooking method, and your rice will turn out fluffy and delicious every single time!
10. Farofa
Farofa is toasted cassava flour that is paired with almost any meal. Sprinkle it on top of rice, beans, or feijoada. It doesn’t have a strong flavor and soaks up the flavor of whatever you cook it with. Traditionally, farofa is cooked with bacon, butter, and garlic. The texture is similar to breadcrumbs and adds a great crunch to any dish. It’s also gluten-free and quick to cook.
11. Brazilian Cheese Sticks
You’ll find Brazilian cheese sticks all over Brazil, including street vendor carts and even at beaches. They’re smoky, gooey, and you won’t be able to put them down! Hunks of paneer or halloumi cheese are placed on a stick and grilled to perfection. I mean, how beautiful are the grill marks?! Chimichurri sauce is usually served with these cheese sticks, but you can also serve it with molasses or honey if you have a sweet tooth.
12. Brazlian Beef Stroganoff
Lovers of the American version of beef stroganoff are in for a real treat! After tasting Brazilian beef stroganoff, you may never return to your old recipe. There are a lot of similarities, and they even look similar. However, the Brazilian version adds ketchup, mustard, and tomato sauce. Hot paprika also gives it a delightful touch of heat. Instead of reaching for your trusty egg noodles, serve with fluffy white rice and shoestring potatoes!
13. Brazilian Filled Donut Holes
Brazilians are well known for their delectable desserts. These heavenly Brazilian filled donut holes take chocolate truffle to a whole new level. While these are crispy and perfectly golden on the outside, you’ll bite into a dense, cake-like texture with a chocolate truffle center! Who else is drooling? The best part is that these are effortless and take just 30 minutes. That’s right, you can eat these tonight! Make a big pot of coffee and enjoy.
14. Brazilian Chopped Salad
Fresh and vibrant, you’ll never know this Brazilian chopped salad is actually healthy. It’s nothing like the typical green salad you’re probably thinking about. Creamy avocado, crunchy hearts of palm, and tangy vinaigrette work together to ignite your taste buds. Every bite has a new texture and flavor. Add in your favorite veggies like grape tomatoes, a fennel bulb, and onion. Homemade lime vinaigrette takes this salad from good to wow!
15. Brazilian Coconut Cocktail
This Brazilian coconut cocktail will bring the fun to any party. Everyone will be demanding the recipe for this tropical drink. Coconut milk creates a creamy drink while the sweetened condensed milk gives a touch of sweetness. It’s traditionally made with cachaca, a Brazilian alcohol, but vodka also works. Blend all ingredients until frothy and top with shredded coconut. The velvety texture is perfect for a warm summer day. Cheers!
16. Brazilian Coconut Cake
Brazilian coconut cake is a staple at children’s birthday parties in Brazil, and it’s about to become a staple in your home! The cake is pretty simple. It’s just a basic sponge cake. What you’ll do next is what makes this cake magical. When your cake is still warm, poke small holes all over the top. Next, you’ll moisten the entire thing with a sweet coconut sauce made of coconut milk and sweetened condensed milk. After the sponge cake absorbs every bit of the creamy sauce, sprinkle with shredded coconut flakes and refrigerate.
17. Brazilian Acai Breakfast Bowl
Start your morning off right with Brazilian acai breakfast bowls. They’re a cinch to throw together, making them ideal for those busy mornings. Sweet and tart, acai breakfast bowls are the perfect thing to wake you up! The sweetness from the sugar calms down the tartness from the acai and passionfruit puree. Everything is blended together before adding granola on top for that welcoming crunchy texture. Whip these up at your next brunch!
18. Galinhada
Not only is galinhada beautiful with its vibrant colors, but it’s also a one-pot meal, making it ideal for any night of the week. Everyone will love this saffron rice with chicken thighs. Steeping saffron threads in warm water will achieve that gorgeous orange color and delicious flavor. Peas, bell pepper, and tomato also contribute beautiful colors to this dish. Chicken thighs are seasoned well with cumin before sautéing. Wine, broth, and tomato paste get added to the pan before covering along with other spices. Enjoy this delicious meal and easy cleanup!
19. Brazilian Shrimp Stew
Brazilian shrimp stew is the perfect meal for those cold nights. It’s thick, flavorful, and simple to put together. Quickly marinating the shrimp in garlic and lemon juice adds so much taste for such a small step. Cayenne gives a little bit of heat, while cilantro makes it feel light. This stew is thick and creamy, mostly due to the pureed tomatoes and coconut milk. Serve with rice or eat it by itself.
20. Passion Fruit Mousse
Only three ingredients are needed to make the easy passion fruit mousse. It’s refreshing and makes the perfect summer dessert. Known as “mousse de maracuja,” this mousse is thick and creamy due to the sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. Blend your creamy ingredients along with thawed frozen passion fruit pulp for a minute. Pour into ramekins and refrigerate for several hours. Traditionally, this mousse is served with a passion fruit coulis, which is just sugar, passion fruit juice or pulp, and seeds heated in a saucepan.
21. Brazilian Chocolate Biscuit Cake
Brazil has the most decadent chocolate desserts, and this Brazilian chocolate biscuit cake is no exception. It doesn’t require any baking, making it perfect for warm summer evenings. Get your hands dirty by breaking up all the biscuits into small chunks. This will get mixed with a creamy chocolate mixture made up of sugar, cocoa powder, butter, cream, and vanilla. After packing that mixture into your cake pan and refrigerating for several hours, it then gets topped with chocolate ganache and sprinkles or chocolate shavings!
22. Brazilian Cornmeal Cake
I would describe this cornmeal cake, or bolo de fuba, as the dessert version of cornbread. It’s a tad bit sweeter and more cake-like in texture than traditional cornbread. Since it’s not as decadent as a traditional cake, it’s actually perfect to eat for breakfast. It even has parmesan cheese. Yum! Everything is mixed in a blender, making cleanup a breeze.
23. Brazilian Vinaigrette Salsa
Brazilian vinaigrette salsa is a staple at any Brazilian restaurant and a dish everyone needs to try at least once in their life. It’s not a spicy salsa. Onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper are chopped into small chunks, making it similar in texture to pico de gallo. It’s all brought together with white wine vinegar and olive oil. Serve it on all your grilled meat!
24. Brazilian Cream Cheese Spread
Brazilian cream cheese spread is not like American cream cheese. It’s not as thick and is traditionally kept in jars or cups. It’s an ingredient used in almost everything — pasta dishes, baked rice, casseroles, stews, mashed potatoes, or just spread it on toast! It’s a staple in Brazilian households. All you’ll need to make this creamy spread is milk, white vinegar, butter, and mozzarella cheese. It’s cooked, blended, and refrigerated before using.
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