No foie gras during festive weather, no raclette in rainy weather, no sauerkraut, not even crêpes suzette… Does a Frenchman let himself starve when he lives in Brazil? That nenni!Failing to find chopsticks, there are many other (too) nourishing things in Brazil. A brief overview of Brazilian gastronomy.
The pao of Queijo: like a medicine, morning noon and evening
Brazilians eat this salty gougère of tapioca flour at breakfast (with a black and strong coffee). Then during lunch (as an accompaniment to the main course). Then at 4pm (for no particular reason, just because it's good). And finally before going to sleep (to spend a sweet night)! It would not be surprising if some Brazilians wake up at night to eat it… Originally, the cheese used was Mineiro, made in the state of Mina Geras, self-proclaimed Brazilian capital of cheese (but recognized as such by many Brazilians). But all desires can be satisfied, especially thanks to the "pao de queijeria", establishments specializing in the manufacture of pao de queijo to all tastes!
As main course: the inevitable bean
Whether verde (green), branco (white), tropeiro (stew), com arroz (served with rice) or fradinho (glazed), feijão remains the undisputed star of Brazilian gastronomy. This small bean, kidney-shaped, has a small black spot in its center and a slightly sweet flavor. The Brazilians appropriate many nutritional qualities (legend has it that these qualities are such that NASA is interested in this bean, which is one of the few plants that could be grown in a space station, in 20 days, to feed astronauts).
La Coxinha: star of our cravings
Coxinha (which means "little leg in Portuguese"), it is a kind of popular croquette filled with chicken and breaded. Created in the 19th century near Sao Paolo, the story goes that Prince Gaston, son of the Brazilian Imperial Princess, loved chicken but only ate its thigh. One day, when there was not enough chicken to satisfy the Prince's cravings, a cook had the idea to crumble the whole chicken and recreate the shape of a leg using a flour-based dough. It was a success. Today, beef coxinha compete with chicken coxinha, as they are so appreciated by all Brazilians. On the plus side, coxinha can be found absolutely everywhere in Brazil. He is the star of street-food (and our untimely cravings).
Where do we eat at noon?
Present on every street corner, you will not be able to miss one of the many weight buffets in Brazil! The principle is simple: a plate, a buffet (very stocked and diversified, most of the time), a scale. Typical dishes are mainly served in these establishments: pao de queijo, feijao, coxinha, cod, slippers stuffed with beef (pastéis), shrimp soup, fried dumplings with shrimp (acarajé vatapa), coconut flan (quidim), sweet cream with white corn (canjica), coconut biscuit (cocada), etc! Do not expect great gastronomy. But at the checkout, no bad surprise: the price is generally 6 to 8 reals per 100g (between 1 € and 2 € per 100g).
After all that, you can put on your apron, and start cooking Brazilian "Made In France"!
