Coxinha
What is it: Little raindrops of fried goodness usually filled with chicken and a very creamy cheese called “catupiry.”
Tastes like: A fried mac ‘n’ cheese ball, sans noodles, plus chicken
Get a recipe here.
Brigadeiro
What is it: Chocolate truffles made with condensed milk instead of cream and covered in chocolate sprinkles.
Tastes like: A Nutella ball sprinkled with chocolate.
Get a recipe here.
Pão de Queijo
What is it: Little rolls of bread with cheese baked into it.
Tastes like: Yup, little rolls of bread with cheese baked into it.
Get a recipe here.
Farofa
What is it: Fried cassava flour. It can include egg, bacon, and other add-ons. It’s usually sprinkled over rice and beans.
Tastes like: Nothing you’ve ever tasted. Come on, it’s fried cassava flour, but it’s still DELICIOUS!
Get a recipe here.
Feijão Tropeiro
What is it: Pinto beans sautéed with cassava flour, scallions, egg, and bacon.
Tastes like: Someone put eggs and bacon in your beans.
Get a recipe here.
Açaí
What is it: A superfood berry
used to make fruit bowls and smoothies. Pro tip: Blend with bananas and
strawberries and top with granola and honey.
Tastes like: A granola bowl, sans yogurt, plus berry goodness.
Pastéis
What it is: More fried goodness
but this time with less dough, which you can fill with everything from
cheese, to beef, to cod fish, and pretty much whatever else your stomach
desires.
Tastes like: A deep-fried empanada.
Get a recipe here.
Mousse de Maracujá
What is it: Passion fruit mousse.
Tastes like: Passion fruit pudding.
Get a recipe here.
Feijoada
What is it: A black bean stew with various types of beef and sausage.
Tastes like: A hearty black bean chili.
Get a recipe here.
Bolinho de Chuva
What is it: Little balls of glorious fried dough sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.
Tastes like: Cinnamon doughnut holes.
Get a recipe
here.
Moqueca de Camarão
What is it: A shrimp stew cooked in coconut milk and palm oil. Add veggies such as peppers and tomatoes to complete.
Tastes like: Clam chowder if it were cooked in coconut milk, minus the clams, plus the fish…and the vegetables.
Get a recipe here.
Beijinho de Coco
What is it: Coconut truffles.
Tastes like: A coconut explosion.
Get a recipe here.
Vatapá
What is it: A spicy cream of fish and shrimp dish cooked in peanut sauce.
Tastes like: A thick shrimp curry, kind of.
Get a recipe here.
Bauru
What is it: A traditional
sandwich with roast beef, mozzarella cheese, tomato, and pickled
cucumber served on a French roll. Pro tip: Cut out the excessive dough
from inside the roll.
Tastes like: A yummy roast beef sandwich.
Get a recipe here.
Creme de Papaya
What is it: Papaya blended with vanilla ice cream. Pro tip: Top with some créme de cassis.
Tastes like: Papaya ice cream with a sweet liqueur drizzled on top.
Get a recipe here.
Acarajé
What is it: A black-eyed pea ball fried in palm oil, usually stuffed with shrimp and vinaigrette.
Tastes like: A stuffed shrimp falafel.
Get a recipe here.
Romeu e Julieta
What is it: Guava paste and white cheese stacked on top of each other.
Tastes like: A guava and white cheese finger sandwich.
Get a recipe here
Misto Quente
What is it: A melted ham and cheese sandwich usually on white bread.
Tastes like: A grilled cheese with ham.
It’s grilled cheese with ham, you don’t need a recipe.
Requeijão
What is it: A ricotta-like cheese spread.
Tastes like: A thicker ricotta-like cream cheese.
Get a recipe
here.
Mandioca frita
What is it: Fried yucca sticks.
Tastes like: Hearty French fries. .
Get a recipe here.
Salpicão
What is it: A salad made of chicken, ham, raisins, carrots, apples, olives, and mayonnaise, and topped with shoestring potatoes.
Tastes like: A sweet chicken salad with shoestring potatoes.
Get a recipe here.
Pavê
What is it: Layers of cookies filled with chocolate or fruit, lemon, coconut, etc.
Tastes like: A chocolate or fruit-filled Neapolitan.
Get a recipe here.
Empadão
What is it: A baked casserole
usually made with chicken, olives, hearts of palm, corn, and other
fillings. You can sub chicken for beef, shrimp, or any other type of
“meat.”
Tastes like: A chicken pot pie without the creaminess.
Get a recipe here.
Quindim
What is it: A baked dessert made of egg yolks, sugar, and ground coconut flakes.
Tastes like: A coconut flan.
Get a recipe here.