Brazilian food is all about big, bold flavors and generous portions meant for sharing. This vast country’s culinary influences span indigenous traditions, Portuguese colonial impacts, and influxes from Africa, Asia, and beyond. The result? An incredibly diverse and delicious spread of dishes.
Whether it’s the iconic feijoada stew loaded with salted pork and smoky black beans, addictive cheese breads called pão de queijo that ooze molten cheesy goodness, or churrascaria-style rodízios serving endless parades of fire-kissed meats, Brazilian gastronomy is hearty, rustic, and downright craveable. Fresh seafood shines in coconutty moquecas and bobó stews. Street foods like crisp-fried salt cod accras or gooey-centered coxinha croquettes make the perfect salgadinhos (salty snacks). And quentinhas (traditional lunchboxes) overflow with comforting rice dishes, warming feijão tropeiro, and vibrantly-spiced vatapá.
With such a smorgasbord of flavors and specialties from the Amazon to the pampas, Brazilian cuisine really does offer something incredibly satisfying for everyone to dig into.
1. Feijoada
The quintessential Brazilian dish – a hearty, rich stew with bold, smoky flavors from black beans and salted pork cuts.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb black beans, soaked overnight
- 1 lb salted pork feet, smoked
- 1 lb smoked pork ribs
- 1 lb smoked sausage (linguiça)
- Onions, garlic, bay leaves, orange slices
- Soak beans overnight, then drain and cover with fresh water
- In a large pot, cook the salted pork feet for 1 hour to tenderize
- Add beans, ribs, sausage, aromatics and simmer for 2-3 hours until very tender
- Serve with orange slices, sautéed collard greens, farofa (toasted manioc flour), and rice
Cook time: 3-4 hours
2. Moqueca
A fragrant coconut milk-based fish stew with rich, creamy, slightly spicy flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb firm white fish fillets (halibut, cod)
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cups coconut milk
- Cilantro, lime juice, garlic, red palm oil
- Season fish and shrimp with salt, pepper, lime juice
- In a pan, sauté onions and garlic until translucent
- Add tomatoes, coconut milk, palm oil, cook 5 minutes
- Add seafood and cilantro, simmer 10 minutes until cooked through
- Serve over rice with lime wedges
Cook time: 30 minutes
3. Churrasco (Brazilian Barbecue)
An assortment of grilled meats with robust, charred, smoky-sweet flavors.
Typical Meats:
- Picanha (rump cap)
- Fraldinha (skirt/flank steak)
- Chicken hearts
- Linguiça (smoked sausage)
- Let meats come to room temp and season generously with coarse salt
- Prepare a very hot charcoal or wood-fired grill
- Grill different cuts directly over the flames, flipping occasionally
- Baste with vinegar-based basting sauce as it cooks
- Slice and serve immediately with pão de queijo, rice, fries
Cook time: Varies by cut, 10-30 minutes
4. Xinxim de Galinha (Chicken in Cashew Nut Sauce)
An incredibly rich and creamy chicken stew with a nutty, slightly spicy sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 1 cup cashew nuts
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 tomatoes, diced
- 2 cups coconut milk
- Cilantro, dende oil, lime juice, garlic, ginger
- Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper
- Blend cashews with onions, tomatoes, coconut milk into a smooth sauce
- In a pot, sauté chicken in dende oil until browned
- Pour cashew sauce over chicken, add aromatics and simmer 30-40 mins
- Finish with lime juice and cilantro
Cook time: 1 hour
5. Vatapá (Shrimp and Bread Curry)
A luscious, velvety curry packed with shrimp and coconut flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 1 cup shrimp stock or clam juice
- Coconut milk, peanuts, dende oil
- Garlic, ginger, chili pepper
- Blend bread crumbs with stock, coconut milk, peanuts into a purée
- In a pot, sauté garlic and ginger in dende oil
- Add bread mixture and simmer for 10 minutes
- Add shrimp and cook for 5 more minutes until shrimp is cooked through
Cook time: 30 minutes
6. Acarajé (Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)
Savory fritters with a crispy crust and fluffy interior, often stuffed with spicy fillings.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried black-eyed peas
- Onion, garlic, salt
- Oil for frying
- Fillings like vatapá, caruru, shrimp
- Soak black-eyed peas overnight, then grind into a batter with garlic/onion
- Heat oil in a skillet and scoop in batter to form fritters
- Fry fritters for 2-3 mins per side until crispy golden brown
- Stuff fritters with desired fillings like vatapá or caruru
Cook time: 1 hour (including soaking peas)
7. Baião de Dois (Rice and Bean Dish)
A comforting smoky, salty, and fragrant rice and bean combo often served with beef jerky.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 cup black beans (or red kidney beans)
- Onion, garlic, smoked meat like jerky or bacon
- Cilantro, scallions, orange slices
- Soak beans overnight, then drain and cook until tender
- In a pot, sauté onions and smoked meat until browned
- Add beans and cooking liquid, simmer for 10 mins
- Stir in cooked rice, cilantro, scallions right before serving
- Garnish with orange slices
Cook time: 1.5 hours
8. Escondidinho de Carne Seca (Shredded Beef and Plantain Bake)
Rich, hearty, and crispy-topped beef and plantain casserole with melted cheese.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb shredded beef or jerky
- 2 large ripe plantains, mashed
- Onions, garlic, tomatoes
- Cream, parmesan cheese
- Breadcrumbs
- In a skillet, sauté onions, garlic, beef/jerky and tomatoes
- Fold in mashed plantains and cream until combined
- Transfer to a baking dish and top with breadcrumbs and parmesan
- Bake at 375°F for 20 mins until browned and crispy on top
Cook time: 45 mins
9. Kibe (Beef and Bulgur Croquettes)
Crispy fried shells give way to a seasoned beef and bulgur wheat filling.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup bulgur wheat
- Onion, mint, parsley
- Beef broth, lemon juice
- Breadcrumbs for coating
- Soak bulgur in broth for 30 mins, then drain excess liquid
- Mix bulgur with beef, onions, herbs, lemon juice and salt
- Form mixture into football shapes and coat in breadcrumbs
- Fry kibbe in hot oil for 2-3 mins per side until crispy golden
Cook time: 1 hour
10. Caldinho de Feijão (Brazilian Black Bean Soup)
A simple yet incredibly hearty and flavorful bean soup, often loaded with smoky meats and veggies.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb dried black beans, soaked overnight
- Smoked pork hocks, bacon or linguiça sausage
- Onions, garlic, bay leaves
- Kale or collard greens
- Orange slices
- Vinegar, for serving
- Drain and rinse the soaked beans
- In a large pot, sauté smoked meats until browned
- Add beans, onions, garlic, bay leaves and cover with water or broth
- Simmer for 1.5-2 hours until beans are very soft
- Add greens in the last 10 minutes of cooking
- Serve with orange slices and vinegar for brightness
Cook time: 2-2.5 hours
11. Quibebe (Northeastern Brazilian Seafood Chowder)
A creamy, coconut-laced chowder exploding with fresh seafood flavors.
Ingredients:
- Shrimp, fish fillets, clams or mussels
- Onion, tomatoes, bell pepper
- Coconut milk
- Cilantro, lime juice, dendê oil
- Peanuts or cashews
- Sauté onions, tomatoes and bell pepper in dendê oil
- Add seafood and coconut milk, simmer for 10 minutes
- Once seafood is cooked, blend half the soup until smooth
- Return blended portion to pot along with nuts and aromatics
- Simmer 5 more minutes and adjust seasoning with lime
Cook time: 30 minutes
12. Empadão de Frango (Brazilian Chicken Pot Pie)
A homey, rich and saucy chicken pie with flaky crust and olives.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- Onions, garlic, tomatoes
- Green olives
- Pie crusts or puff pastry
- Chicken stock, cream, parsley
- In a pot, simmer chicken in stock until cooked through
- Remove chicken and shred the meat
- In the stock, sauté onions, garlic, tomatoes until saucy
- Add shredded chicken, olives, cream and parsley
- Pour into a baking dish and top with pie crust
- Bake at 400°F for 25-30 mins until crust is golden
Cook time: 1.5 hours
13. Frango à Passarinho (Brazilian-Style Fried Chicken Bites)
Incredibly crispy and flavorful fried chicken pieces that make the perfect appetizer or snack.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs/drumsticks, cut into chunks
- Lime juice, garlic, parsley
- Flour, eggs, breadcrumbs for dredging
- Oil for frying
- Lime wedges, hot sauce for serving
- Marinate chicken chunks in lime juice, garlic, parsley for 30 mins
- Dredge chicken in flour, dip in beaten eggs, then coat in breadcrumbs
- Fry chicken pieces for 3-4 mins per batch until golden brown
- Drain on a wire rack and season with salt
- Serve hot with lime wedges and hot sauce
Cook time: 45 mins
14. Angu (Brazilian Cornmeal Porridge)
A thick, creamy, comforting cornmeal porridge often served with stews or cured meats.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water or broth
- 1 cup cornmeal
- Butter, green onions
- Salt pork or linguiça sausage
- Bring liquid to a boil and slowly whisk in the cornmeal
- Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 mins, stirring frequently
- Once thickened, stir in butter and season with salt
- Ladle into bowls and top with sliced green onions
- Serve with crisped salt pork or sausage on the side
Cook time: 30 mins
15. Tutu à Mineira (Refried Black Beans with Pork and Eggs)
Creamy, intensely flavorful refried beans topped with crispy pork, onions and eggs.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb black beans, soaked
- Onions, garlic, pork fat
- Smoked pork scraps or bacon
- Eggs, scallions, hot sauce
- Cook the soaked beans until very soft, reserving bean broth
- Mash half the beans with some bean broth until smooth
- Crisp up smoked pork in pork fat, remove pork bits
- Sauté onions in the fat, then add mashed and whole beans
- Cook for 10-15 mins, adding more broth if too thick
- Top with crispy pork bits, fried eggs, scallions and hot sauce
Cook time: 1.5 hours
16. Picadinho (Brazilian-Style Sautéed Beef)
A simple yet incredibly flavorful dish of tender sautéed beef with onions, tomatoes and briny olives.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb beef sirloin or tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
- Onions, garlic, tomatoes, green olives
- Red wine vinegar, olive oil
- Parsley, salt and pepper
- Season beef cubes with salt and pepper
- In a skillet, sear beef over high heat until browned on all sides
- Remove beef, drain excess fat and add sliced onions
- Once onions are translucent, add garlic and sauté 1 minute
- Deglaze pan with vinegar, scraping up browned bits
- Return beef to pan along with tomatoes, olives and parsley
- Simmer 5-10 minutes until beef is very tender
Cook time: 30 mins
17. Galinha Cabidela (Chicken Stew with Rice and Oranges)
A rustic, bright and tangy chicken stew made with rice, oranges and crispy chicken skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken, skin on
- Onions, garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper
- Oranges, white wine vinegar
- Chicken stock, rice, parsley
- Season chicken and brown the skin-on pieces over high heat
- Remove chicken, drain fat and sauté onions and garlic
- Add tomatoes, peppers, vinegar and chicken stock
- Return chicken pieces and any juices to the pot and simmer for 30 mins
- Add rice and orange slices, continue simmering for 15 more mins
- Garnish with parsley and crispy chicken skin
Cook time: 1 hour
18. Carreteiro (Brazilian Beef Hash)
A satisfying, richly seasoned beef hash with rice, beans, farofa and eggs.
Ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Onions, garlic, tomatoes, chili peppers
- Cooked rice, black beans
- Farofa (toasted manioc flour)
- Eggs, scallions for serving
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef with onions and garlic
- Add diced tomatoes and chili peppers, cook for 5 mins
- Fold in cooked rice and beans until well combined
- Create wells in the mixture and crack in whole eggs
- Sprinkle farofa over the top and bake at 375°F for 10 mins
- Garnish with sliced scallions and serve immediately
Cook time: 45 mins
19. Coxinha (Brazilian Chicken Croquettes)
These crispy, richly-flavored fried dough pockets are stuffed with a creamy shredded chicken filling.
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken thighs/breasts
- Chicken broth, butter, flour
- Onions, garlic, parsley
- Dough: flour, milk, butter, chicken broth
- Breadcrumbs for coating
- Oil for frying
- Poach chicken in broth until cooked through, shred meat
- Make béchamel: melt butter, whisk in flour, then broth to make sauce
- Sauté onions and garlic, add to béchamel with shredded chicken
- For dough: boil milk and butter with broth, stir in flour to make dough
- Roll dough and fill with chicken mixture, seal into drumstick shapes
- Dredge in breadcrumbs and fry at 350°F for 3-4 minutes until golden
Cook time: 1.5 hours
20. Bobó de Camarão (Brazilian Shrimp Stew)
This creamy, coconut milk-enriched shrimp and yuca purée is an iconic Bahian dish.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Yuca (cassava root)
- Onions, tomatoes, cilantro
- Coconut milk, dende oil
- Lime juice, cashews
- Boil yuca until very soft, drain and mash into a purée
- In a pan, sauté onions in dende oil until soft
- Add tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and coconut milk
- Fold in yuca purée and shrimp, simmering until shrimp is cooked
- Garnish with toasted cashews
Cook time: 1 hour
21. Arroz de Hauçá (Brazilian Rice with Peanuts)
A hearty and craveable combination of rice, shredded chicken or beef, peanuts and veggies.
Ingredients:
- Long grain rice
- Chicken or beef, shredded
- Onions, tomatoes, bell peppers
- Peanuts, cilantro, lime
- Broth or water
- Sauté onions and shredded meat in a pot until browned
- Add tomatoes, peppers and rice, stirring to toast rice
- Pour in broth and simmer for 15-20 mins until rice is cooked
- Fold in peanuts, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice
Cook time: 45 mins
22. Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)
These addictive warm, gooey, cheesy puffy breads made with tapioca flour are a beloved Brazilian snack.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/3 cup olive oil or butter
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- In a saucepan, bring milk, oil/butter and salt just to a boil
- Remove from heat and stir in tapioca flour until well combined
- Let dough rest for 10-15 mins to firm up slightly
- Beat in the egg until fully incorporated
- Fold in shredded parmesan
- Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 mins until puffed and lightly golden
Cook time: 35 mins
23. Rocambole (Brazilian Garlic Bread Roll)
These rich, buttery garlic-stuffed pull-apart dinner rolls are the perfect accompaniment to churrasco.
Ingredients:
- 1 recipe bread or pizza dough
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Parsley, parmesan cheese
- Roll out dough into a large rectangle
- Spread butter over dough, then top with minced garlic, parsley, parmesan
- Carefully roll up dough into a tight log
- Use a serrated knife to cut log into 8 equal pieces
- Arrange pieces cut-side up in a greased baking pan
- Cover and let rise for 30 mins
- Bake at 375°F for 20-25 mins until golden brown
Cook time: 1 hour
24. Virado à Paulista (Mixed Rice and Bean Dish)
This hearty and endlessly customizable rice and bean mixture is topped with crispy sausages and fried eggs.
Ingredients:
- Cooked white rice
- Cooked black beans or pinto beans
- Linguiça sausages
- Onions, eggs
- Farofa (toasted cassava flour)
- Sliced cooked meat like beef or pork (optional)
- In a skillet, crisp up sliced linguiça
- Push sausages aside and scramble beaten eggs
- Add cooked rice, beans, onions and any cooked meat
- Sauté everything together for 5 minutes until well combined
- Serve portions topped with sausage slices, fried eggs and farofa
Cook time: 30 mins
25. Açaí na Tigela (Brazilian Açaí Bowl)
These thick antioxidant-packed purple berry smoothie bowls are a popular Brazilian breakfast or snack.
Ingredients:
- 1 pack frozen açaí puree
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup milk or yogurt
- Toppings: granola, fresh fruit, honey, nut butters
- In a blender, combine the açaí puree, banana and milk/yogurt
- Blend until very smooth and thick, adding more milk if needed
- Pour açaí smoothie into a bowl
- Top with desired toppings like granola, sliced fruits, drizzles of honey/nut butter
Cook time: 10 mins
Conclusion
With its enticing blend of Native American, African, European, and other influences, Brazilian cuisine is a true melting pot of vibrant flavors and traditions. From the national dish of comforting feijoada to the sizzling churrascaria rodízios, iconic pão de queijo cheese bread to tropical seafood moquecas, this is a generous and soul-satisfying gastronomy.
Whether you crave rich stews, charred barbecued meats, crispy-fried street snacks, or exotic fruits and superfoods, the bold and diverse tastes of Brazil are sure to captivate and delight. This is celebratory fare that brings people together, with recipes worth savoring slowly and sharing with loved ones.