Brazil’s ethnically diverse population (which includes native Indians, Portuguese, Africans, Italians, Japanese and Germans) paints a broad culinary picture with many traditions fusing together and influencing one another. Much of the cuisine is derived from basic rustic dishes although more cosmopolitan fare can be found in places like Sao Paulo and other urban areas.
In the northern parts of the country, including the Amazon basin, where the majority of the population is native Indian, the diet is dominated by fish and root vegetables such as yam. Tropical fruits and peanuts are also important constituents of the local diet. A popular dish is a soup called Tacacá made from cress, cassava and shrimps. Alligator meat is also commonly used in many dishes.
In the north east of the country, more fertile land allows the farming of cocoa and sugarcane as well as large pastures for grazing cattle. Historically, many of the workers on these plantations were African lending a distinct twist to the local cuisine. Rice and beans are the more common staples in this Afro-Brazilian diet. Popular dishes include Moqueca, a seafood stew with garlic and peppers and Pamonha, a sweet pastry often eaten at celebrations. Fruits such as mango, pineapple and guava are also in abundance.
The central plains are dominated by the cattle ranches. Beef and pork as well as beans, corn and rice dominate the diet here.
Further south, in the industrial and urban centres such as Sao Paulo, we see the diverse influences of generations of European and Asian migrants. Typically much of the food here is Lebanese, Japanese, German and Italian in style. Pizza here is surprisingly popular, and can include some bizarre toppings such as jam and chocolate as well as “gourmet” versions including seafood and fine cheeses.
Sushi is very popular in large urban areas of Brazil, reflecting the popularity of fish dishes in the country as a whole. Bacalhau, a type of spiced, preserved cod is a common ingredient in many day to day dishes.
“All you can eat” restaurants and buffets are favourites in Brazil. There are restaurants where you “pay by the kilo” i.e. you literally pay for the amount you have eaten. Another popular type is where the servers continually circulate with various dishes, the diners having pre-paid a fixed price. Be warned: Brazilians are fairly avid carnivores and do not tend to accommodate vegetarians very well.
