Eating all over the world: B - Brazil

Welcome to Brazil!

Brazil is home to the Amazon rainforest, the biggest carnival in the world, Copacabana beach and last but by no means least, coffee.

If you were to ask me my favourite ingredient I would probably stumble over several ingredients (chipotle chilli, yuzu koshu and cardamom) get distracted by other favourites (star anise, vanilla and cinnamon), really not knowing which to pick but then would ultimately realise it simply has to be coffee.  The truth is I know I could not live without coffee, whereas the other ingredients I could, even if I would really, really miss them.  I tried giving coffee up for Lent once, what a nightmare that was for me and everybody around me, I turned into a grumpy snappy nightmarish monster.  I start every day with a latte and it is the moment that sets me up for the day.  Without it I am just a little bit grumpy. Well ok, a lot grumpy.

I love coffee, the smell is wonderful, as you pass a coffee shop, as the coffee machine is set going and the smell wafts up the stairs, that first aromatic hit as you put the cup up to drink, I could go on.  Coffee is the best smell in the world and since getting my coffee machine I have taken great pleasure in trying different coffees from around the world and understanding the very different flavour profiles.

Brazil is the worlds largest producer of coffee, producing over 3 tonnes annually. Brazilian coffee is creamy with low acidity and is medium bodied.  When roasted slightly darker the beans have a chocolate/nutty/caramel finish - which is everything I love in coffee.

Another food Brazil is very famous for is the Picanha.  Picanha is a wonderful cut of beef that comes from the top of the rump and is also known as the rump cap or the sirloin cap.  The ‘fat cap’ is the reason the steak is so tender with such a wonderful flavour.  This cut is very similar to sirloin and one of the tastiest cuts of beef thanks to that big fat cap.  It is a definite favourite in Brazil where it would typically be cooked as a whole piece over fire (there really is no better way).  You can buy a whole piece from the butchers in the UK and, very recently, M&S have started selling individual Picanah steaks.

As our focus recipe for Brazil we have made spiced coffee Picanha steak, softly spiced as most Brazilian dishes are not spicy at all (unless you come from the Bahia region with it’s strong African influence) and is just full of flavour.

In very recent years modern, fine dining in Rio and São Paulo has exploded with Brazil boasting 25 Michelin star restaurants, 5 of those restaurants holding 2 stars. São Paulo has been described as a major culinary hub with innovative high end dining. Definitely a city to put on the list of places to visit if you are a foodie.

Brazilian food is vibrant and diverse with heavy regional differences.  Europeans settled in the South so you will find a Portuguese influence, in the North there is African influences and in the Amazonian area you will find lots of fish and indigenous ingredients which would be very much the locals using what they have available.

The most famous Brazilian dishes are: 

Feijoada - the Brazilian national dish - this is a deep rich stew of pork and black beans.
Moqueca - a fish stew with coconut milk tomatoes and onions.
Churrasco - essentially a BBQ/Braai where picanha is traditionally served.
Arroz e Feijao - rice and beans.
Coxinha - shredded chicken and cream cheese (think croquettes)
Pasteis - fried pasties

If you would like to get a Brazilian inspired cookbook I can highly recommend is Mezcla by Ixta Belfrage which is actually a fusion of Brazilian, Italian and Mexican, it is fantastic. She also has Fusao which is focused much more on Brazilian food.

If you fancy trying a dish inspired by Brazil then try our individual coffee spiced picanah steaks, the spice uses smoky chillies (mimicking the fire element and giving a gentle heat), a touch of maple syrup for sweetness, herbs and seasoning and, the coffee which tenderises the steaks beautifully.

Whilst not strictly Brazilian, espresso martini relies on great coffee and as it is such a fabulous drink, we had to include it.

We hope you like both.