Brazilian Main Dishes: 30 Delights in Rio de Janeiro

Experience the culinary delights of Rio de Janeiro with 30 Brazilian main dishes. Discover the flavors that make this city a food lover’s paradise.

Introduction

Brazilian cuisine is a captivating fusion of diverse flavors, influenced by various regions and cultural backgrounds. From hearty stews to succulent grilled meats, Brazil offers a wide array of mouthwatering main dishes. In this blog post, we will take you on a culinary journey through some iconic Brazilian dishes.

These are just a few of the many delicious and distinct Brazilian main dishes that you can try when visiting Rio de Janeiro. These dishes offer a range of flavors and textures that are sure to satisfy your appetite. 

Also, be sure to visit a variety of restaurants and eateries to experience the full range of Brazilian cuisine. 

And of course, don’t forget to try some of the local drinks, such as caipirinhas and cold, refreshing beers, to complement your meal. So, with an appetite for discovery and a zest for exploration, let’s explore the rich and delicious food culture of Brazilian Main Dishes.

 Savory Arroz de Pato, a delightful duck and rice dish cooked with a medley of vegetables and spices. Brazilian Main Dishes

Arroz de Pato – A duck and rice dish cooked with various vegetables and spices. Served with red wine. 

Brazilian Main Dishes Delicious Arroz com Camarão, a flavorful rice and shrimp dish seasoned with various spices.

Arroz com Camarão – A rice and shrimp dish made with various spices. Served with farofa and hot sauce. Found at Casa de Tereza in Santa Teresa.

Savory Picadinho, a delicious beef stew featuring tender meat, potatoes, onions, and peppers.

Picadinho – A beef stew made with potatoes, onions, and peppers. Served with rice, farofa, and beans. Recommended at Adega Pérola in Copacabana.

Hearty Cozido, a flavorful stew made with a variety of meats and vegetables. Brazilian Main Dishes

Cozido – A hearty stew made with various meats and vegetables. Served with rice, farofa, and hot sauce. Try it at Bar Lagoa in Lagoa.

Creamy Estrogonofe de Frango, a delightful chicken dish with mushrooms, served with rice.

Estrogonofe de Frango – A creamy chicken dish made with mushrooms on a bed of rice. Served with white wine. Found at Strogonoff do Russe in Copacabana.

Succulent Peixe à Belle Meunière, a delightful fish dish accompanied by a creamy sauce made from butter and lemon.

Peixe à Belle Meunière – A fish dish served with a creamy sauce made from butter and lemon. Served with white wine. Found at Cervantes in Copacabana.

Flavorful Frango com Quiabo, a delicious chicken and okra stew infused with a blend of aromatic spices.  Brazilian Main Dishes

Frango com Quiabo – A chicken and okra stew made with various spices. Served with rice and beans. Best tried at Casa do Sardo in Copacabana.

Hearty Caldinho de Feijão, a comforting bean soup originating from Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian Main Dishes

Caldinho de Feijão – A hearty bean soup. Served with bread and hot sauce. Try it at Bar do Adão in Lapa.

Satisfying Dobradinha de Bucho, a flavorful tripe stew with beans and spices. Brazilian Main Dishes

Dobradinha de Bucho – Another variation of the tripe stew made with beans and served with rice and farofa. Found at Bar do Momo in Lapa.

Hearty Mocotó soup, a flavorful dish made with cow's feet, beans, and vegetables.

Mocotó – A soup made with cow’s feet, beans, and vegetables. Served with rice and hot sauce. Found at Mocotó in Santo Cristo.

Creamy and flavorful Moqueca, a delectable seafood stew made with fish, coconut milk, and a variety of vegetables. Brazilian Main Dishes

Moqueca – Fish meats coconut milk plus other veggies to make a creamy tasty seafood stew. Best found at Cook in Rio!

Carne de Sol - A savory Brazilian dish made with sun-dried beef.

Carne de Sol – A popular Brazilian dish made with sun-dried beef. Served with rice, beans, and farofa. Best tried at Bar da Gema in Tijuca.

Escondidinho - A delicious Brazilian dish with mashed cassava, cheese, and flavorful meats. Brazilian Main Dishes

Escondidinho – Similar to a shepherd’s pie, made with mashed cassava, cheese, and various meats. Served with rice and beans. Find it at Bar da Gema in Tijuca.

Carne Seca com Abóbora  A flavorful dish made with dried beef and pumpkin.

Carne-Seca com Abóbora – A dish made with dried beef and pumpkin. Served with rice and couve mineira. Try it at Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa.

A delicious acarajé, a deep-fried bean fritter stuffed with shrimp, hot sauce, and vegetables. Brazilian Main Dishes

Acarajé – A deep-fried bean fritter stuffed with shrimp, hot sauce, and vegetables. Served with ice-cold beer. Try it at Feira Hippie on Sundays in Ipanema

A mouthwatering display of Churrasco, a traditional Brazilian barbecue hailing from Rio Grande do Sul. Brazilian Main Dishes

Churrasco –A Brazilian barbecue with various cuts of meat grilled on skewers. Served with rice, beans, and farofa. Recommended at Churrascaria Palace.

Galinhada - A delectable chicken and rice dish simmered in a flavorful saffron broth with vegetables.

Galinhada – A chicken and rice dish cooked in a flavorful broth with saffron and vegetables. Served with couve mineira and tutu de feijão. Try it at Aconchego Carioca in Leblon.

A tantalizing plate of Vatapá, a Bahian specialty originating from Bahia, Brazil Brazilian Main Dishes

Vatapá
A Bahian specialty made with fish, bread crumbs, coconut milk, and peanuts. Served with rice and farofa. Found at Casa de Tereza in Santa Teresa.

Arrumadinho - A flavorful salad with beans, cassava flour, and assorted vegetables.

Arrumadinho – A salad made with beans, cassava flour, and various vegetables. Served with farofa and hot sauce. Try it at Feira de Sao Cristovao.

A delectable plate of Tutu de Feijão, a traditional Brazilian dish from Minas Gerais. Brazilian Main Dishes

Tutu de Feijão – A dish made with mashed beans, pork, and spices. Served with rice, collard greens, and farofa. Found at Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa.

A delicious plate of Angu, a traditional Brazilian dish from Minas Gerais Brazilian Main Dishes

Angu – A dish made with mashed corn, cheese, and various meats. Served with farofa and hot sauce. Found at Bar da Gema in Tijuca.

A scrumptious Bife a Cavalo, a traditional Brazilian beef dish topped with a fried egg, served alongside rice and beans.

Bife a Cavalo – A beef dish served with a fried egg and various sides. Served with rice and beans. Best tried at Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa.

A delicious plate of Frango à Passarinho, a popular Brazilian dish originating from Minas Gerais. Brazilian Main Dishes

Frango à Passarinho – Fried chicken wings served with various sides. Served with hot sauce. Found at Bar da Gema in Tijuca.

Delicious Linguiça com Feijão Tropeiro, a traditional Brazilian sausage and bean dish from Minas Gerais

Linguiça com Feijão Tropeiro – A sausage and bean dish made with various spices. Served with farofa and hot sauce. Best tried at Adega Pérola in Copacabana.

Savory Galinha ao Molho Pardo, a traditional Minas Gerais chicken dish featuring a rich sauce made from blood, vegetables, and spices.

Galinha ao Molho Pardo – A chicken dish made with a sauce made from blood, vegetables, and spices. Served with rice and farofa. Found at Casa do Sardo in Copacabana.

Delectable Sarapatel, a flavorful pork dish with a blend of spices, served with aromatic rice.

Sarapatel – A pork dish made with various spices and served with rice. Served with farofa and hot sauce. Try it at Bar do Momo in Lapa.

Delicious Escondidinho de Carne Seca, a Northeastern specialty resembling a shepherd's pie.

Escondidinho de Carne Seca – Similar to a shepherd’s pie, made with mashed cassava, cheese, and dried beef. Served with rice and beans. Found at Bar da Gema in Tijuca.

Scrumptious Baião de Dois, a mouthwatering rice and beans dish from the Northeast region

Baião de Dois – A rice and beans dish made with various meats and spices. Served with farofa and hot sauce. Found at Bar da Gema in Tijuca.

Flavorful Arroz Carreteiro, a delightful variation of the classic beef and rice dish with a touch of beans and vegetables.

Arroz Carreteiro – Another variation of the beef and rice dish, but with a twist of beans and vegetables. Served with farofa and hot sauce. Found at Bar da Pracinha in Gávea.

Savory Pato no Tucupi, a delectable duck stew cooked in a tangy sauce made from tucupi, a flavorful cassava broth.

Pato no Tucupi – A duck stew made with a tangy sauce made from tucupi, a type of cassava broth. Served with rice and farofa. Try it at Tacacá do Norte in Copacabana.

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