Brazilian food

It has the best food in the world.

Brazilian food

Brazilian food is an exuberant, colourful mix of Portuguese, African and native foods, including some from the Amazon. The native Indians developed ways of preserving meats by smoking and drying them; they also cooked corn porridge, cassava meal and sweet potatoes, and discovered delicious ingredients such as heart of palm.

Almost more so than any other country, the food scene in Brazil is a culinary melting pot merging influences from all over the world. Ingredients and traditions from as far afield as Africa, Japan and Portugal intermingle with the native landscape of coastline, farmland, mountains and jungles to create a wonderful mish-mash that is often best seen (and tasted) right out on the street.

From sweet treats to salty snacks, here are our top picks of classic Brazilian street foods.

* Picanha

Barbecuing meat is something the Brazilians do very well. Churrascarias are specific barbecue restaurants which can now be found all over Brazil, but the tradition comes from the Gauchoculture of the south, where cowboys would cook meats skewered on metal spits over hot coals, seasoned simply with rock salt. The prime cut of meat now associated with this style of cooking is picanha – the top part of sirloin steak. This has a thick layer of fat which ensures the charred, smoky meat just melts in the mouth.

* Pastel de queijo

A crisp, deep-fried pastry, this portable snack is found mainly in the southeast of the country (particularly in São Paulo) and makes for the perfect street food. Served hot as an accompaniment to drinks, the pastéis can be stuffed with any number of savoury fillings, from chicken or ground beef to heart of palm or melting cheeses. Sweet versions can also be found, usually flavoured with tropical fruits, chocolate or caramel.

* Brazilian chicken coxinha

Another deep-fried classic from São Paulo, coxinha are crunchy croquettes usually made with a filling of shredded chicken and Catupiry (a soft, creamy cheese). The filling is surrounded by a layer of dough, then coated in golden breadcrumbs before frying to create the perfect crunch. Often shaped like a teardrop, this is thought to represent the shape of a chicken thigh which would have originally been used for the filling.

At this point you’re probably thinking, “It’s true, it cannot be denied: Brazilians win the food game.”