Brazilian Food: Why Their Steaks Are The Most Ultimate Dishes

Whenever you return from your travels to a new place with a bagful of fun and warm memories about all the amazing stuff that you saw and experienced there, there will always be a few special ones that remain top of mind. And the delightful food discoveries you make while on a vacation always have a major role to play in the memories you carry back with you.    

If you have recently visited Brazil or plan to visit this lively and sport-loving Latin American country, the one thing, apart from the beaches, nightlife, samba and the Rio carnival of course; that is sure to be an unforgettable and unique experience there is dining at a Brazilian steakhouse.

Brazilians have taken steak or grilled meat to a different level of culinary expertise. And visiting an authentic Brazilian steakhouse to understand how is an important part of exploring the food culture of Brazil.

Brazil’s Love Affair With Steak

To understand why the steak is the most ultimate dish in Brazil, one needs to understand where it came from. It is quite a fascinating story. The tradition of barbecuing or grilling meat on a charcoal fire or what they call ‘churrasco’ is something that originated with the cowboys or ‘gauchos’ of southern Brazil. They are the ones who began and perfected the art of raising the best breed of cattle, selecting the perfect cut of tender meat and roasting it on a spitfire.

Over the centuries this traditional and rustic style of cooking meat evolved and spread to different regions. And that is how the staple food and cooking style of the cattle-grazing nomadic gauchos gained popularity and led to Brazil becoming so famous for its barbecue and steaks.        

Churrascaria - The Brazilian Steakhouse

There is no better place to experience Brazil’s love affair with steaks than at an authentic Churrascaria, where the choicest cuts of meat, usually beef, are cooked churrasco style. What truly sets apart a Brazilian steak is the care they take in selecting the choicest quality of beef, cut expertly and the art of cooking the cut of meat to tender and juicy perfection.

Types Of Steaks

These are some of the popular varieties or rather cuts of steak that you can expect to be served at these traditional steakhouses. 

Picanha – A typical crescent-shaped cut of top sirloin with a layer of rich fat on top

Fraldinha – A marbled bottom sirloin

Maminha – Refers to the lean cut of bottom sirloin

Cordeiro – Occasionally grilled meats apart from beef are also served. This one is lamb chops or a leg of lamb.

Linguica – This is a mildly smoked and cured pork sausage seasoned with garlic and paprika.   

Apart from the steaks, there are other traditional Brazilian dishes that you will come across at a Churrascaria that you should try. Check out some of these other famous Brazilian food:

• Empadao which are mini pies with a filling of cream cheese and vegetables or prawn or meat, quite commonly served at bars, restaurants and street food stalls.
• Tapioca crepe which comes in both savoury and sweet versions is a popular coastal food best enjoyed as a beach snack. Fresh fruits and nuts go into the sweet crepe, while the savoury one will typically have ham, cheese and tomato.
• Feijoada is widely considered as the national dish of Brazil. It is a stew-like preparation of black beans slow cooked in a pot with chunks of meat, served with steamed white rice, some greens, crisps, fried bananas and orange slices.    

When planning your trip to Brazil don’t forget to buy travel insurance. Having travel insurance is as important and mandatory as ensuring that you have a valid passport and a visa to visit Brazil. Make sure you buy travel insurance for Brazil before you leave from India because it is a necessary travel safeguard to protect your finances in times of unforeseen crisis. Insuring your overseas trip will allow you to explore the sights and sounds of a foreign country with total peace of mind, knowing you are covered just in case any mishap occurs such as an accident, loss of luggage or even if your trip itself gets cancelled.  

We suggest you get hold of our travel guide for Brazil if you would like to know more about the places to see and things to do in Brazil, the best time of year to visit, how to budget and save for your Brazil vacation and other handy travel tips.

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