My husband and I both spent time living in different parts of Brazil during our college years doing mission service work for our church. My Father and several other family members did as well, so we speak Portuguese and love Brazilian culture, people, and food! Many people assume Brazilian food is the same as other latin American countries, but in reality, each country has its own unique style, flavor, and tradition. In addition, Brazilian cuisine really varies by region, just like you see in the US. For example in the Northern parts of the country you’ll generally find more African influences, and in the South you tend to see more European influences. No matter where you are, there are certain types of foods that are very typical to Brazil, and if you ever have the opportunity to visit there, I guarantee you’ll love the food almost as much as you love the people!
Our Family on our last trip to Rio!
Below are some of my own recreations of my favorite Brazilian dishes. I’ll never claim anything to be authentic, as I was born and raised in the US! But from our many travels to Brazil, and our time spent living there, we’ve discovered some great ways to recreate our favorite Brazilian dishes in our American kitchen and I hope you’ll discover some things you love, too and enjoy a little taste of Brazil!
Citrus and sweetened condensed milk may sound like a strange combination, but trust me on this amazing Brazilian beverage that’s cool, creamy, sweet-tart and refreshing!
An easy recipe for black beans cooked in a pressure cooker. No soaking required! Can be served the traditional way over rice, or used for Latin dishes like burritos, fajitas, and salads. Click Here for my Brazilian Style Rice Recipe.
A delicious fresh condiment traditionally served with grilled meats. Serve it along side steak, chicken or fish. For a traditional Brazilian “churrasco” (aka bbq) serve with rice and beans on the side! This recipe is highly adaptable. Feel free to taste and adjust according to your preferences (more salt and pepper, vinegar amount, extra peppers or tomatoes etc.)
Traditional Brazilian cheese bread. These little rolls have a unique texture as they are made with tapioca flour. They’re chewy and flavorful and a perfect snack or side! This recipe includes 2 different methods to make them.
A tender fluffy cake with a natural sweetness from pureed carrots, topped with chocolate frosting. Traditionally baked in a 9×13 pan, but works great in a bundt pan as well.
This Brazilian inspired Black bean soup is all at once homey and magnificent in its simplicity. Perfect on it’s own as a light meal, but also great as a side for a big salad or paired with a grilled cheese sandwich. We particularly love it with a pepper jack panini.
Brigadeiros are a traditional Brazilian “docinhos,” or little sweets. They are present as pretty much every birthday party or festive occasion! These are soft and chewy chocolate balls made with a few simple ingredients.
A classic Brazilian dessert made with simple, inexpensive ingredients! Decadently creamy with an easy caramel sauce. This recipe is for a standard size tube pan (similar to the size of angel food cake) but a smaller 6″ works great with the recipe halved.
In Brazil, rice is made with a slightly different method, sautéing the dry rice with garlic and onion before cooking with water. It results in tender, fluffy white rice with amazing flavor!
This thick, spreadable caramel is a staple in Latin-American kitchens and incredibly simple to make at home. It requires only one ingredient! Perfect for drizzling over desserts like ice cream or cheesecake, or spreading onto cakes, cupcakes, or cookies.
Sara Wells co-founded Our Best Bites in 2008. She is the author of three Bestselling Cook Books, Best Bites: 150 Family Favorite Recipes, Savoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites, and 400 Calories or Less from Our Best Bites. Sara’s work has been featured in many local and national news outlets and publications such as Parenting Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Fine Cooking, The Rachel Ray Show and the New York Times.
Questions & Reviews
I would love to see a recipe for Brazilian chicken stroganoff!
I love Brazilian stroganoff- I’ll share my recipe, soon!
My son comes home in December from Curitiba and says this is his favorite dish! Would also love your recipe!!