As with most South American countries, the traditional cuisine in Brazil is an amalgamation of a plethora of cultures coming together and combining to create an interesting and unique cuisine. Indigenous peoples provide the main roots of Brazilian cuisine, but when the Portuguese colonized Brazil, their cooking preferences blended with traditional indigenous cuisine.
Also, during the 1600s and 1700s, the times of slavery, Africans brought their style of cooking to Brazil. This added yet another dimension to Brazilian cuisine. Slavery eventually ended, but immigration did not. People from Spain, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Lebanon migrated to the country, adding their cooking styles and blending together with what we know of today as “authentic Brazilian cuisine”.
Needless to say, Brazilian cuisine is the end product of a large host of varying cultures coming together. Prevalent ingredients in Brazilian cuisine are all kinds of meats, fish, tropical fruits, beans, rice, and manioc root (also known as cassava or yuca), but from one region to another, they vary in availability and common usage.
The national dish of Brazil is Feijoada, which is prepared with all kinds of pork: chorizo, ham, bacon, ribs, and sometimes even beef gets thrown in, along with black beans, rice, and onions. Feijoada is traditionally made with the use of all parts of the pig, even including ears, tail, and nose.
Because tourists often are squeamish about eating such pig parts, often restaurants will offer Feijoada that does not include them. And since our readers here at Ethnic Foods R Us are from all over the world, we will offer the recipe that excludes those parts as well, but feel free to include them if you wish.
So have at it, click on the recipe of your choice(s) below, and enjoy your ethnic food adventure into the very interesting, tasty, and unique world of …
Brazilian Cuisine!
Caipirinha Classico (Brazil’s National cocktail)
Feijoada (Brazilian National Dish, a Hearty Meat Stew)
Moqueca Mista (Classic Brazilian Fish Stew)
Pizza Empanadas (Brazilian “fast food”, a salty pastry with ham, cheese, sweet tomato and herbs)
Vatapa (Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Coconut Stew)