Brazilian street foods are the first image that comes to my mind when someone mentions the country besides the famous sceneries and the people’s hospitality. Why? Their delicacies are so toothsome that it is difficult to forget your experience with them.
Although Brazilian gastronomy is outstanding, there might not be much information about their street food on the Internet. Therefore, to help you know more about the irresistible foods of this country, my article offers many food suggestions to opt for. Why don’t you scroll down for more now?
It is not a bad idea to start today’s food list with some light and sweet delicacies. Have you ever tried or researched Brazilian desserts before? If not, these upcoming dishes are great for your start.
1. Pamonha
(Sweet Corn Mush)
Pamonha might remind you of Tamales, another famous Latin American treat from Mexico. Although their appearances are relatively similar, the Brazilian Pamonhas (meaning “sticky” in the local language) are distinguished by their fillings and ingredients.
To make a standard portion of Pamonha, the chefs need to wrap a sweet corn paste with its fillings (sweet/savory) inside some fresh corn husks. Both sweet (with coconut milk/pulp) and savory fillings (ham or minced meats) of Pamonhas are famous in Brazil.
The way to make this simple Brazilian dessert might be pretty rustic; Brazilians love eating the food and preparing it year-round. However, it will be much easier for you to find Pamonha during Festa Junina or wintertime.
Are you curious about how people react in their first time trying Pamonha?
2. Churros
To be honest, the true origin of Churros is quite unclear, and most popular theories say that the Portuguese or Spanish created the food based on a simple Chinese delicacy, Youtiao. After the Churros became famous in Europe, Spanish people brought them to Brazil.
Because of that, Brazilian Churros are reminiscent of the Spanish variations of this dish. Yet, local people have made a few twists and tweaks to make theirs different.
After deep-frying the regular Churros dough in hot oil and coating it with sprinkled sugar, Brazilians typically dip the fried treats in a special caramelized milk (Doce De Leite). You can also serve it with chocolate sauce as you wish.
3. Cafezinho
Don’t be too surprised to see coffee on the list because Brazil has been the biggest coffee beans exporter globally for years. People here love this drink a lot. With a piece of Pão De Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread), Coffee has become a staple drink for breakfast in this nation.
I have to admit that this Brazilian’s signature drink is definitely distinguished. Your first sip of Brazil Coffee offers you a unique lighter acidity and more prominent nutty taste than other countries’ variations.
Do you know what is the true origin of this drink in Brazil? It’s an exciting story as coffee beans were first brought to Brazil by a smuggler who tried to sell this Guinea-originated product there in 1727.
4. Açai Na Tigela
The name of this dish, Açai Na Tigela or Acai In The Bowl, already tells you about its main ingredients. Acai is a typical and popular fruit in Rio, Brazil, and the indigenous people love it because of its high nutritional content, rich in fiber and vitamin E.
The taste of this unique Brazilian fruit is also very fragrant and mellow, so it is often used to make sweets. There are two main variations of Acai Bowl. The more popular one is a smoothie-like treat that includes mashed Acai and other fruits.
In the more exotic one, the cooks serve Acai together with shrimp/dried fish to create a savory dish. In addition to being used to make Acai Bowls, Acai palm fruits can also be an ingredient to make other sweets such as ice cream, Tiramisu, or Mousse.
Overall, Acai Bowl is delectable. If you want an idea for a healthy breakfast, Açai Na Tigela won’t let you down.
5. Brigadeiro
It is time for a treat for one with a sweet tooth. Brigadeiro (or Brazilian Chocolate Balls) was named after a famous politician Brigadier Eduardo Gomes (from the 1940s).
The reason for its popularity was the lack of fresh ingredients during World War II. Chocolate, a nutrient-loaded food, consequently grew in popularity. This Brazilian treat consists mainly of cocoa powder, condensed milk, and chocolate nuggets on the outside.
Today’s versions also have sprinkled coconut flakes, almonds, or pistachios on their exterior, making them even more appealing.
Brazilians often eat this candy at birthday/wedding parties, carnivals, festivals, or for desserts after meals. They basically have Brigadeiro any time, and that is also why this sweet always belongs to the top 10 most beloved desserts in Brazil.
If you are a meat-lover or simply find a dish that can fill up your stomach quickly, this category is the one for you. I won’t let you wait any longer; here are some of my first recommendations!
6. Kibe
It appears that Brazil is well-known for its fried delicacies, with Kibe being one of the most popular distinctive traditional deep-fried delicacies in the country. Though these fried meat patties actually have their roots in Middle East countries, it is Brazilians that make them achieve global fame.
Kibe’s main component is spicy minced beef and bulgur wheat formed into patties/balls. The cooks must then season and coat them in flour before deep frying the entire thing in hot oil.
The dish’s spicy, crisp flavor will fascinate you from the first mouthful. Don’t forget to order an extra cold beer to enhance the dish’s taste. Nothing can go wrong when having a fried, finger-licking-good treat with a cup of refreshing barley-flavored drink.
7. Picanha Steaks
A meat lover will agree with me that the more straightforward you prepare your meat, the better its taste will be. After all, the natural sweetness and juiciness of steaks are always the best flavor.
In Brazil, they always make Picanha from the best cuts of beef (includes both lean meat and fat) and flavor them with only salt.
Although Brazilians were the ones who created this appealing BBQ meat dish, its name, Picanha, was a lent word from the Iberian Peninsula language. The term “picana” typically refers to a particular pole used by ranchers living in Portugal or Spain’s southern regions.
Even though the chefs in Brazil typically use thick cuts of meat, your dish will never be too dry or too raw. It needs to be cooked to perfection as you ordered before serving, so you can have the best taste experience with Picanha in this country.
8. X-Tudo
There is no particular reason for the name “X Tudo” of this kind of Brazilian-originated burger. It is just a funny phonetic trick: the way people pronounce “cheese” in English sounds similar to how to pronounce the letter X in Portuguese.
Based on that, X-Tudo means “cheese everything,”. It is indeed a Brazilian-style cheeseburger, modeled after the unmistakable American delight. You can have many delectable components and sauces in a portion of X-Tudo.
Some best picks you can choose are beef patties, bacon, melted cheeses, and some kinds of vegetables. For the sauce, you can choose mayonnaise since it is pretty versatile and can match with anything. The toppings for X-Tudo are quite diverse, so you can try anything you like.
Please notice Brazilians often serve X-Tudo in a considerably big portion, so make sure that you have an empty stomach before attempting to eat a whole one alone.
9. Cachorro Quente
Hot dogs are an American-originated street food option that also exists in various cuisines. For example, the Brazilian version (Cachorro Quente) is a combination of ground beef, chopped vegetables, ham, bacon, etc., inside a piece of bread roll.
In some older variations of Cachorro Quente, you can even see local people pair the food with fries, peas, or grated carrots. If you don’t want them in, just tell your requirements to the sellers.
Brazilians typically serve this treat with chunky tomato sauce that characterizes their cuisine. This sauce also helps all ingredients in the dish come together better.
Apart from Brazil, this hot dog is also a crowd-favorite street food in Portugal. The dish is an excellent idea if you’re running out of ideas for a busy dinner.
Now, let’s talk about some scrumptious street snacks to opt for in Brazil! Besides all the heartier dishes and desserts, my following recommendations for you are absolutely promising.
10. Aipim Frito
Vastly different from potato chips or French fries, these cassava fries (or Aipim Frito) are the fried treat distinct to Brazilians. Cassava is one of the most important starch in local people’s diets, and the root veggie tastes really good after frying.
Aipim Frito is easy to prepare so that you can see many small vendors selling it frequently on Brazilian streets. Its mild taste and irresistible crunchiness make it a perfect treat with a cup of cold beer on a hot day. Enjoying it with a cup of bubble tea also makes sense.
If you don’t want fries, you can try cassava chips. The ingredients are the same, but the chefs will make the cassava roots into thin, round slices instead of chunky like cassava fries.
11. Pastel or Pastel De Queijo
Pastel is not an authentic Brazilian recipe. It is actually a food creation from Japanese communities who found their way to this country in World War II. Nowadays, these small fried treats play an essential role in the hearts of São Paulo citizens.
People in Brazil typically prepare their Pastéis (the plural form of Pastel) in a hand-sized, square shape with various savory fillings inside a crispy pastry covering the outside. The stuffing for this dish can be ground beef, melting cheese, or the heart of palm.
They can utilize fruits, caramel, or chocolate for Pastel filling to meet the appetite of people with a sweet tooth; yet, most Brazilians prefer the savory variations. The exterior will be extremely thin and crispy so that the eaters won’t feel greasy when eating. Sounds yummy!
12. Pão De Queijo
Pão De Queijo is an authentic bread recipe from Brazil as its first record was from the 18th century in this nation. Nowadays, Pão De Queijo is famous globally, and many other countries have introduced their variations with some distinguishing features.
This unique and much-loved Brazilian street food has a lovely round shape composed primarily of cheese-mixed cassava flour. A portion of Pão De Queijo (meaning “cheese bread”) can be served with a variety of sweet/ salty garnishes or none.
You will often feel the salty taste mixed with light fat and a cheese-y aroma when eating this kind of bread. Although these taste layers are similar to those found in other varieties of bread, their ratio in Pão De Queijo sets it apart.
People in Brazil usually have a light breakfast with Pão De Queijo and a cup of milk/coffee. Otherwise, they can eat it with fruit jam or sandwich it with sausages/cold meats. Still, you can eat it at other times of the day as long as it makes you happy.
13. Acarajé
(Brazilian Black-Eyed Pea And Shrimp Fritters)
Brazilian black-eyed pea and shrimp fritters (or Acarajé) is renowned worldwide as a specialty in Bahia (a northeastern region in Brazil). This delicious dish was actually a Nigerian-originated delicacy before enslaved black people brought it to Brazil.
In the land of Brazil, Acarajé fritters usually consist of black-eyed peas (peeled beans) with an easy-to-eat salty filling (shrimp mixed with vinegar). After that, the local chefs will fry the whole Acarajé in palm oil until it has an attractive golden color.
When you eat this on the streets of Brazil, you usually get a whole serving, including deep-fried Acarajé, and side dishes like tomatoes, fried shrimp, and chili sauce. If you are on a vegetarian diet or just want a healthier dish, you can skip the shrimp.
On a side note: Acarajé is often spicy or even tongue-burning. Therefore, don’t forget to ask the sellers for a less spicy variation if you are not into such foods.
14. Bolinhos De Bacalhau
Bacalhau or codfish is the main ingredient for many foods in Portugal or Spain. Since Brazilian gastronomy shows strong influences from those cuisines, people in this country also love using codfish for their daily food.
Bolinhos de Bacalhau (or fried cod cakes/ little cod balls) are among them. This dish consists of salted cod with egg, potatoes, and typical Brazilian spices. Then, the cook will cook the cake into an oval shape and fry it until golden before serving.
My tip for you when enjoying Bolinhos de Bacalhau is to eat it with sour sauce, lemon, and beer. This will be your next favorite finger food to enjoy alongside a few drinks with your friends and loved ones.
15. Coxinha
(Chicken Croquettes)
The last fried dish in today’s article is this widely-loved Coxinha. The name of this dish means ” little thigh ” in the Brazilian language because the main ingredient is chicken. Brazilian cooks even form their Coxinha into the shape of a chicken drumstick before cooking.
After doing all the preparation and processing steps (coating the food with breadcrumbs and frying), the vendors/sellers serve you a plate of Coxinha with vinaigrette and sauces.
About the food’s root, Brazilians first prepared it in Limeira, a region of São Paulo, in the 19th century. Today, you can easily find Coxinha almost everywhere in Brazil, from the luxury restaurants to the humble street food stands.
The quality might change a little bit due to the cooks’ skill, but I guarantee a qualified Coxinha will never disappoint you.
Bom Apetite! These Brazilian Delicacies Await You!
When roaming around the tourist or culinary streets, you will be overwhelmed by the outstanding and attractive street food you cannot help but enjoy. Therefore, the dishes that I have introduced to you today are suggestions that you should definitely not ignore.
Start with the sweet Brigadeiro or the famed Churros if you’re stuck for ideas. All these dishes are worth trying, so don’t hesitate to share this article with your loved ones and start planning your vacation to Brazil right away.
