Embark on a culinary journey through Brazil, a country where vibrant flavors and diverse traditions create an unforgettable gastronomic experience. From iconic street snacks like the crispy coxinha to the hearty, soul-warming feijoada, these 20 must-try dishes capture the true essence of Brazilian culture.
Whether you are lounging on a sunny beach or exploring bustling local markets, sampling these authentic treats is an essential part of your South American adventure. Discover the sweet, savory, and unique flavors that will leave you craving more long after your trip has ended.
Açaí
Super-food açaí is traditional in Brazil, especially in coastal cities where it is a typical post-beach snack. Try it plain as sorbet, or ask for banana, strawberry, or granola to be added to take it to a new level of tastiness. Açaí can also be found as a smoothie, juice, powder, or even added to the main meal using its raw, berry form.
Brigadeiro
Brigadeiro is balls of truffles made with condensed milk and covered in chocolate sprinkles. The traditional brigadeiro is milk chocolate, yet white chocolate versions are also available. They can get even more delicious when made with a whole strawberry in the middle.
Pão de Queijo
This is so much more than just bread and cheese. Made with cassava flour, so it is gluten-free, these little puffs are crispy on the outside, squidgy on the inside and filled with cheesy flavor. Depending on your appetite, they can be sold in packets or as great balls of cheese.
Canjica
Canjica is a bowl of whole pieces of white corn mixed with milk, a splash of coconut milk and condensed milk to make a creamy, enviable dessert with sprinkles of cinnamon. It is usually served during the annual June Festival, yet as it is too tasty to save for just once a year, it’s easy to find year-round.
Empada
Empadas are mini pies sold in nearly all snack bars, bars and restaurants throughout Brazil. They are perfect as an on-the-go snack or washed down with a cold beer. The most typical fillings are dried meat, chicken with cream cheese, prawns with cream cheese or palm hearts.
Coxinhas
This hearty snack is a heap of shredded chicken wrapped up in a gooey, warm dough before being battered and fried. Some even mix the chicken inside with cream cheese for that extra, juicy bite. With its crispy outside texture and soft, fluffy inside, it’s hard to stop at just one.
Beijinho de Coco
The name translates to coconut kiss, which fits perfectly with this mouth-sized dessert. It’s made with condensed milk and butter mixture before being rolled into little balls and covered in coconut flakes. The top is often decorated with a clove. Light and moreish, these little treats are popular at Brazilian birthday parties.
Pastels
Pastels are served as large rectangular pastries at farmer’s markets or half-moon-shaped pastries in bars. Typical fillings include ground meat, cheese, prawns, chicken with cream cheese and palm hearts.
Acarajé
Acarajé is a black-eyed bean pattie that is deep fried and served to steaming hot. It usually has prawns inside and is filled with optional chili oil.
Farofa
Farofa is unique to Brazil, and its taste and significance are hard to understand without actually trying. It is fried tapioca flour mixed with small pieces of fried bacon and served alongside rice and beans. While it doesn’t sound much, it is incredible how it works so well with beans and rice, absorbing the juices and adding an extra texture to an otherwise quite mushy meal.
Tapioca crepe
The tapioca crepe was a typical food in the northeast of Brazil but recently became popular in many other coastal cities. It’s often served at small street stalls as savory with cheese, tomato and ham or sweet with chocolate, strawberries, bananas and nuts.
Feijoada
Feijoada is one of the leading Brazilian dishes you can find the most and is eaten in every corner of the country. It’s a pot of black beans cooked with chunks of meat, although the genuinely traditional feijoadas cook it with pig’s ears, trotters and other parts. It’s served with fried kale mixed with bacon bits, rice, farofa (here, farofa works so well to absorb those last bits of bean sauce) and a slice of orange to flavor.
Prawn skewer
Fresh prawns on a skewer are the number one food to be spotted on the beaches in Brazil, where beach vendors wander up and down selling grilled prawns impaled on giant wooden skewers.
Misto Quente
This everyday Brazilian snack or light lunch option is half of a French baguette grilled with melted cheese and ham inside and is often eaten with fresh fruit juice from the snack bars on the streets.
Moqueca de Camarão
This delicious stew is slow-cooked with prawns, coconut oil, milk, and added vegetables. It is a typical dish from Bahia but is loved throughout Brazil.
Paçoca
Paçoca is sold in little cylinder shapes as a sweet. Think of the peanut filling in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, which is pretty much the taste of paçoca.
Joelho
Joelho means knee in English, yet the food version is a thick bread pastry with cheese and ham on the inside; it is the ultimate feel-good food.
Mandioca Frita
Fried cassava is a popular choice in Brazil as an alternative to chips. They’re chunky, crispy and delicious, not to mention a healthier option than regular french fries.
Quindim
Quindim is flan with added coconut flakes. It is either served as a large cake or in tiny mouthful portions.
Por Kilo
I am amazed this idea has not caught on worldwide. The Brazilian, pay-for-the-weight buffet combines all your meaty treats with some of the best salad bars around, and you choose exactly what you want and how much of it you want …you weigh your plate of food and are charged accordingly - genius!
