Get a Taste of Rio de Janeiro's Best Comfort Foods

Feijoada (pronounced fay-jwah-dah)

Feijoada is a classic dish that's very popular with the locals. The super-traditional black bean dish is packed with flavours from smoked ham hocks and herbs and can be eaten as a soup or over steamed white rice. Simply put, it is a rich-and-hearty stew made of beans with beef and pork. There are many restaurants in Rio where you can order it. Plus, you will find a lot of variations, which are enjoyable.

Moqueca

Credit: Gilrovina / CC BY-SA 4.0

When it comes to comfort foods, one cannot miss trying a hearty soup. The soup-stew is traditionally made with white fish or shrimp and tastes delicious. Moqueca is typically served in a piping hot clay pot that when uncovered at the table clouds you with fragrant steam. The dish teams well with rice, farofa that's toasted manioc flour, which is ideal for absorbing juices), and pirão (a tasty spicy fish porridge version made with manioc flour).

Quindim

Credit: Tamorlan / CC BY-SA 3.0

Yet another popular comfort food is quindim, a glossy yellow sweet treat. Made from eggs, sugar, and coconut (with butter as a typical addition), it's baked in cupcake-sized moulds. The baked version is a lovely toasted and golden dish, which has a blend of grated coconut and is topped with a smooth, firm custard. It looks like flan or panna cotta but the difference is the base flavour of the dish, which can be attributed to the yummy coconut.

Pao de Queijo

Pao de Queijo is a delightful treat. It's a wonderful blend of cheese and bread, that's crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, and makes a mouth-watering snack. Guests can enjoy the gluten-free bread rolls made with tapioca flour, eggs, and grated curado minas cheese, and rolled into small balls. One can also find stuffed rolls with cream cheese and various meaty fillings at some top restaurants.