The Rio 2016 Olympics is nearly here and to celebrate, we’ve put together a colourful selection of Brazilian dishes that are oh so tasty and perfect for an evening in front of the telly watching your favourite Olympic picks.
If you’ve never tried Brazilian cuisine before, what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to discover new dishes and new tastes. Oh and be prepared for a taste explosion, as this vibrant part of the world really knows how to use and mix ingredients for food that deserves a gold medal!
Feijoada
To begin your Brazilian food journey, we recommend you start with one of the most universal and popular dishes of Brazil: Feijoada (pronounced fed-ge-waaa-da). This hearty stew combines black beans, (which are the main ingredient; the word ‘feijão’ means beans in Portuguese), sausages and different cuts of pork (with even trotters and ears going in!) along with garlic and other herbs. In the interest of research (of course) we cooked our very own pot-full and everyone in the office gave it the thumbs up!
The dish also has a rich history: slaves – imported by colonial Portugese to Brazil in the mid-16th century – introduced the dish to Brazil. As servants, they would cook for their masters, and any remains of meat, such as the remains from the pork would be used to create a stew. Adding beans and seasoning ensured it was a well-rounded meal that would sustain the servants after a hard day’s work.
Fancy making it for yourself? Take a look at our favourite Feijoada recipe but remember, preparing this dish takes time (but it’s worth it) so make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you start.
Jamie Oliver’s Feijoada Recipe
Moqueca de Camarão
Another great ‘one pot’ dish to experience is Moqueca de Camarão. This creamy concoction combines prawns, coconut milk and palm oil, along with your choice of veggies and a handful of herbs. Oh, and it’s pretty spicy too!
The Brazilian state of Bahia can proudly claim the dish as their own, but it is extremely popular throughout the Northeast region of Brazil. We love the seductive medley of seafood, coconut milk, peppers and herbs – and the clever addition of palm oil transforms the coconut milk both in taste and colour, and enhances the sea salty flavour of the prawns. Utterly delicious…
Tempted? Try this recipe today:
Salpicão
If you fancy something a little ‘lighter’, how about a Brazilian salad with a twist? Ok, it’s not exactly a lettuce and cucumber combo, but Salpicão is a salad! Take a little chicken, ham, raisins, carrots, olives, apples and mix with mayo, then, top with shoestring potatoes. Yes, we know it sounds a little odd, but trust us, it tastes amazing!
Also known as a Brazilian Chicken Salad, Salpicão is made a little differently depending on where you go in Brazil, or which recipe you follow.
You can also use this delicious salad as a filling for a sandwich. Here are a couple of different versions for you to try:
Salpicão (topped with shoestring fries)
Coxinhas
Ok, we’ve had enough of being good, let’s get back to temptation with Coxinhas, which are tantalising little balls of fried goodness! Usually filled with chicken and ‘catupiry’, a creamy cheese, they look and taste divine!
Easy to eat on the go, it’s no surprise that Coxinhas is an extremely popular street snack. But you don’t need to go to Brazil to find them, they’re easy to make too, so cook up your own tasty batch, close your eyes and imagine you’re in Rio…
Brigadeiro
So, we’ve had plenty of savoury options, how about a couple of sweet options too? Our first sweet treat is Brigadeiro, which is a heavenly mix of chocolate truffles, condensed milk and chocolate sprinkles.
From north to south, these chocolaty balls are, quite simply, scrumptious.
They are often served at parties and made for celebrations such as Christmas – in fact, if there is an excuse to make or buy them, Brazilians will do just that! Fortunately for us here in the UK, they are simple to make, which means we can enjoy their sweet taste too…
Pavé
You may have heard of Pavé. A popular sweet dessert, it layers cookies filled with different combinations such as chocolate, fruit, lemon or coconut (to name a few).
The trick here is to layer, and then fill with your favourite sweet pick. Popular in restaurants and homes throughout Brazil, Pavé is surprisingly easy to make – and it will be an instant hit with guests. Perfect with a cuppa when watching the Olympics!
Get your Pavé on with this step-by-step recipe
Hungry now? We hope our specially selected recipes have inspired you to try something new – and to celebrate the Rio 2016 Olympics in the best possible way… with food.
Enjoy!
