Acarajé are bean patties, fried up in dende oil and sold by street vendors in Bahia, north-eastern Brazil. In theory, they are made from black-eyed peas soaked, then crushed, mixed with salt and onion to form a paste. In practice, they are more often made from brown beans, as they are less expensive. Additional seasonings…
Brazilian Food
Arracacha
Arracacha is a South American root vegetable that resembles a stout parsnip with off-white skin. It hasn’t yet made its fame outside South America, as potatoes and sweet potatoes have. It’s a member of the “umbellifer” family of plants that includes carrot, celeriac, parsnip, parsley, and even Queen Anne’s Lace. There are yellow, orange and…
Bolo de Milho: Brazilian Corn Cake
Bolo de Milho (“milho” meaning “corn”) is a corn cake popular in Brazil and in the Azores. It is similar to North American Johnnycake or cornbread, but sweeter. The batter is made with cornmeal, coconut milk, condensed milk, sugar, baking powder and egg. It is typically baked either in a flat, square cake pan, or…
Cachaça
Cachaça is a clear alcohol made in Brazil. Though it is often compared to brandy or grappa, which are made from grapes, it’s actually more like a form of rum, being made from sugar cane like rum is. It is made from unrefined sugar cane juice that is allowed to ferment for about 3 weeks,…
Dendê Oil
Dendê oil is a thick, dark, reddish-orange, strong-flavoured oil extracted from the pulp of a fruit from a type of palm tree grown in Africa and in Brazil. It is used in cooking in West Africa and in Brazil, particularly in Bahia. African versions are much heavier than Brazilian versions. It has a flavour that…
Fradinho Beans
There appear to be two different types of beans referred to as “Fradinho” in Brazil. One is brown, the other is white with a brown eye on it. Language Notes “Fradinho” means “little monk” in Portuguese.
Jaboticaba
Jaboticaba is a small fruit that looks like a grape. It is anywhere from ½ inch to 1 ½ inches (1 ½ to 4 cm) wide, with tough, thick skin, and white flesh with 1 to 4 seeds in it. The skin can be a tad bitter, but otherwise the flavour of the fruit actually…
Malagueta Chile Peppers
Malagueta Chile Peppers are Brazilian peppers closely related to Bird’s Eye Pepper and Tabasco Peppers. They are small, narrow peppers that taper to a narrow end, and grow pointing upwards. They fall off the plant easily. They are relatively hot. Scoville units: 10,000 to 15,000 Note that Malagueta Chile Peppers are not the same as…
Vatapá
Vatapá is a thick, very rich tasting Brazilian sauce based on puréed shrimp. The ingredients are dried shrimp, onion, dende oil, peanuts, coconut milk, plus spices and seasonings. It is thickened with bread. You can use Vatapá as a sauce on top of rice, or as a filling for acarajes, or a condiment to top…
XimXim
XimXim is an African-influenced dish made in the Bahia area of Brazil, and in Cuba. It is a fricassé of chicken, dried shrimp, tomatoes, green pepper, coconut milk, peanuts and cashew nuts, garlic, onions and dendê oil, served with rice. To make it, you heat the dendê oil, stir fry in it the chicken, onion,…