Popular Brazilian Food and Snacks Every Brit Should Try

Have you tried Brazilian snacks before? Whether you’re lounging on Ipanema Beach with a beer in hand or wandering the streets of São Paulo in search of a quick bite, Brazil has a fantastic variety of snacks to offer. If you’re visiting, exploring Brazil’s cuisine is a great way to experience the country’s culture. Or perhaps you’re planning a move to Brazil, or you’re a Brazilian living abroad and missing the flavours of home? Read on to discover some of the most popular savoury snacks found across Brazil.

Brazilian Foods, Snacks, and Desserts

1. Pão de Queijo

You can find pão de queijo everywhere in Brazil. These small, cheesy bread balls are a popular treat, often enjoyed at local cafés alongside an espresso or a cafezinho (small black coffee). Made with tapioca flour, the dough creates a soft, chewy centre with a crisp outer crust. Originally from Minas Gerais, pão de queijo has since become a much-loved snack across the entire country.

2. Pastel

Pastéis are a popular street food in Brazil—crispy, deep-fried pastries filled with savoury ingredients like cheese, chicken, shrimp, or palm hearts. It’s believed that the pastel was brought to Brazil by Asian immigrants who adapted the Chinese wonton recipe to suit local tastes. Today, it’s a beloved snack enjoyed by Brazilians of all backgrounds, often savoured on Sundays at farmers’ markets alongside a glass of sugarcane juice or a cold beer. And the best part? It’s an affordable treat that won’t cost you many reais.

3. Romeu e Julieta

4. Coxinha

In Brazil, coxinha is another common street food. These crispy chicken croquettes are served everywhere, from bakeries to fancy restaurants, from bars to gas stations. The name coxinha translates to “little thigh” because the snack is shaped to resemble a drumstick or a little teardrop. To make them, a dough created from chicken stock and potatoes is formed around shredded chicken and a soft cheese called requeijão and deep-fried.

Legend has it that the dish has royal origins—the story goes that one of Princess Isabel’s sons in the 19th century refused to eat anything other than chicken drumsticks until one day they ran out. The family’s chef then decided to shred meat from other parts of the chicken, form it into a drumstick shape, and fry it to fool the child. It was so good, Empress Teresa Cristina ordered the snack to be served in royal kitchens across Brazil.

5. Pamonha

Pamonhas are similar to Mexican tamales. To create pamonha, a paste is made from grated and juiced corn. The paste is then stuffed with a variety of flavors, wrapped in corn husks, and boiled. Even though pamonhas can be sweetened by putting coconut milk in with the dough, they’re more commonly stuffed with cheese or meats. Pamonha is often eaten during parties in Festa Junina, which marks the end of the harvest season.

6. Tapioca

Naturally gluten-free, tapioca is an incredibly versatile snack, as it can be stuffed with any flavoring to create a pancake. You can often find tapioca at street food markets in Brazil, where the pancakes are cooked to order and filled with whatever you want, from cheese to meats to coconut and banana. To make the mix for tapioca, tapioca starch is moistened with water and then passed through a sieve to create a fine powder. This powder goes straight onto a hot pan to form a pancake.

7. Bolo de aipim

Perfect with a coffee for a mid-afternoon treat, bolo de aipim is a rich, dense cake made with aipim (cassava) and coconut. With a texture similar to a brownie, this naturally gluten-free delight is a favourite in Brazil. Bolo de aipim is often enjoyed during the festivals of Saint Anthony, Saint Peter, and Saint John. It’s a traditional snack to savour while sitting around a bonfire, adding a sweet touch to these festive celebrations.

8. Pão de batata

Pão de batata, or Brazilian potato bread, is a hugely popular snack, often filled with Catupiry cheese—a well-known brand of creamy requeijão (Brazilian cream cheese). Typically shaped into small round loaves, this soft, fluffy bread is a favourite treat and can be found in bakeries throughout Brazil.

9. Queijo de Minas Frescal

Queijo de Minas Frescal is an iconic Brazilian cheese, traditionally handmade from cow’s milk. It has a soft texture and a mildly salty flavour, making it an excellent choice for sandwiches, pancakes, and pastries. This versatile cheese can also be fried in butter for a golden, crispy finish or added to salads and vegetables during cooking for extra richness.

10. Acarajé

Originally from Bahia in northeastern Brazil, acarajé is a small, savoury dumpling made from black-eyed peas and deep-fried in óleo de dendê (Brazilian palm oil). Once fried, the dumpling is split open and filled with a spicy mixture of peppers, dried shrimp, and vatapá—a rich, creamy dough made from ground bread, coconut milk, peppers, and parsley. Acarajé is a staple of Brazilian street food, commonly found in markets across the country, particularly in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro.

FAQs About Brazilian Food

What is Brazilian Food Known For?

Brazilian food is famous for its rich flavours, diverse ingredients, and unique blends of indigenous, African, and European culinary traditions. Dishes like feijoada, pão de queijo, and brigadeiro showcase the variety and depth of Brazilian cuisine.

What are Some Must-Try Brazilian Dishes?

• Feijoada: A hearty black bean stew with pork, considered Brazil’s national dish.
• Pão de Queijo: Chewy cheese bread made with tapioca flour.
• Moqueca: A fish or seafood stew cooked with coconut milk, tomatoes, and palm oil.
• Coxinha: Deep-fried dough filled with shredded chicken, shaped like a teardrop.
• Açaí Bowls: Frozen açaí berries served with granola and fruit, perfect for a refreshing snack.

What are Popular Street Foods in Brazil?

• Pastéis: Deep-fried pastries with savoury fillings like cheese or shrimp.
• Acarajé: Black-eyed pea fritters filled with shrimp and vatapá.
• Espetinhos: Skewered and grilled meats, similar to kebabs.
• Tapioca Pancakes: Made from cassava starch and filled with sweet or savoury toppings.

What Influences Brazilian Cuisine?

Brazilian cuisine reflects a mix of indigenous, African, Portuguese, and immigrant influences, resulting in a diverse and vibrant food culture. African roots are seen in dishes like acarajé, while Portuguese settlers introduced feijoada and desserts like pudim.

Is Brazilian Food Spicy?

Brazilian food is typically not very spicy. However, chilli-based sauces, such as molho de pimenta, are often served on the side for those who enjoy extra heat.