ExploFood · South America
What to eat in Brazil
Five dishes to try in Brazil, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Brazil
Feijoada
Black bean stew slow-cooked with pork cuts and sausage, served with rice and farofa.
How to have it: Traditionally eaten on Wednesday or Saturday lunch, with orange slices, collard greens and a caipirinha.
Pão de queijo
Small chewy cheese bread rolls made with cassava flour.
How to have it: Sold warm at bakeries and cafés all day; good with a cafezinho for breakfast.
Coxinha
Teardrop-shaped fried dough filled with shredded chicken and cream cheese.
How to have it: Find it in any lanchonete or bakery counter; add a squeeze of hot sauce.
Moqueca
Fish or seafood stewed in coconut milk, dendê palm oil, tomato and peppers.
How to have it: Bahia and Espírito Santo each claim it; served bubbling in a clay pot with rice and pirão.
Brigadeiro
Soft chocolate fudge balls made with condensed milk and chocolate sprinkles.
How to have it: A fixture at birthday parties; gourmet brigadeiro shops sell them by the piece.
What to eat next door
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Questions
What food is Brazil famous for?
Feijoada (black bean stew slow-cooked with pork cuts and sausage, served with rice and farofa) comes first on our list, followed by Pão de queijo, Coxinha, Moqueca and Brigadeiro.
What is the national dish of Brazil?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Brazil is Feijoada: black bean stew slow-cooked with pork cuts and sausage, served with rice and farofa. Traditionally eaten on Wednesday or Saturday lunch, with orange slices, collard greens and a caipirinha.
Which dishes in Brazil are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Pão de queijo and Brigadeiro. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Brazil?
Coxinha (teardrop-shaped fried dough filled with shredded chicken and cream cheese).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Brazil
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.