Africa + Brazil: a food mix full of flavors

In some cases the ingredients came from Africa or the techniques or the hands that prepared them. The result are the dishes displayed here

Chicken In Blood Sauce (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Let's build it together

Food culture is constantly evolving. So is the investigation on its heritage. If Câmara Cascudo, Raul Lody and Manuel Querino are considered masters on the origins of Brazilian food and, therefore, the main source of this exhibition, new works are being produced and are welcome.*

Acaraje (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Acarajé (black eyed pea fritter)

From Iphan's dossier on the craft of Baianas: "Its original name is, in places in the Gulf of Benin, West Africa, acará, which, in Yoruba, means 'to eat fire' – acará (fire) + ajeum (to eat) – and comes from the way it was proclaimed in the streets: 'acará , acará ajé, acarajé'."

Green tomatoes vinaigrette

The Angolan Súmate is very similar to the Brazilian vinaigrette. It uses tomatoes, peppers, onions, vinegar, oil and salt to prepare a salad that accompanies meat, fish and pirão.

Learn how to prepare acaraje (2018-07) by Ana Luiza TrajanoInstituto Brasil a Gosto

What about preparing acaraje and vinaigrette?

Chef Ana Luiza Trajano demonstrates a version of this delicious recipe from Bahia

Hauçá Rice (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Hauçá Rice

"Câmara Cascudo registered the origins: ‘Haussás, muslim sudaneses from Nigeria, had left in Salvador a dish with rice which honors their name, hauçá rice, kept by baianos from the capital'. " from the book Basico: Enciclopédia de Receitas do Brasil, by chef Ana Luiza Trajano

Efo (2021) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Efó

It is prepared with the same technique as caruru. The difference: instead of the okra, the leaves known as cow tongue are used. It is a dish that is offered to Oxum in the religious rituals of Candomblé, usually served with angu made of rice flour.

Pigweed (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Caruru

From Africans and indigenous people came the recipe present in the religious rituals of Candomblé. From the Indians, the name caá-riru, which names a plant. It is therefore possible to make “caruru de carurus”, although okra is used more often, with cashew nuts and dried shrimp.

Amaranth (2015) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Amaranth (or, in Portuguese, caruru)

It is a green leafy vegetable with purplish veins, similar to African blue basil. Easy to cultivate anywhere in Brazil, this tropical herb is known by several names, both in Portuguese and in English − pigweed, Chinese spinach, red leaf amaranth, common tumbleweed.

Xinxim Chicken (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Xinxim

In the religious rituals of Candomblé, it is a recipe appreciated by Oxum, Xangô's second wife. When made for her, the xinxim is prepared in a special way, with eggs. In homes, the recipe can also take beef or offal.

Abará (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Abará

Manuel Querino explains: It is made with black-eyed peas and a little bit of fragrant oil. It is prepared stirring everything with a wooden spoon. Then, small amounts are wrapped in banana leaves, as it is done with acaçá, and then, cooked in a bain-marie.

Shrimp bobó (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Shrimp Bobó

The word “bobó” comes from the Fon language (spoken in Benin) and refers to the cream that initially was made with taro, manioc or breadfruit, without shrimp. Nowadays a staple of Bahia’s cuisine, it can be eaten as a single dish or as a side dish for meats and fishes

Brazilian Corn Couscous (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Brazilian Corn Couscous

“In Brazil, it was from corn flour that the Maghreb couscous was reinvented to enhance the value of this American cereal. This couscous also has its recipes expanded with the use of cassava pasta or puba pasta, which results in a delicious dish", from Raul Lody's book 

Brazilian corn couscous (2021) by Max JaquesInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Brazilian corn couscous

Learn how to prepare it with a simple cloth

Goat’s Entrails (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Goat’s Entrails

Similar to the preparation of Brazilian buchada (goat entrails), in Cape Verde botchada, the goat's stomach is stuffed with bacon, peppers and curdled pork blood. Once cooked, the botchada is cut into slices and fried in oil.

Moqueca (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Fish moqueca from Bahia

There are two main styles of moqueca in Brazil. One, from Bahia, uses palm oil, coconut milk and peppers, and has its origin from the African culture . The other one, from Espirito Santo, uses annatto, a tradition from the indigenous people.

Fish Moqueca (2020-04) by Ana Luiza TrajanoInstituto Brasil a Gosto

How to prepare moqueca

Learn this delicious recipe with chef Ana Luiza Trajano

Egg Moqueca (2021) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Egg moqueca

Moqueca is such a a versatile preparation, it can be made with different ingredients. As vegetables and eggs 

Vegetable Moqueca (2018-07) by Ana Luiza TrajanoInstituto Brasil a Gosto

What about a vegetable moqueca?

Chef Ana Luiza Trajano has a special vegetarian version of the moqueca

Moqueca Capixaba (2017) by Alexandre SchneiderInstituto Brasil a Gosto

Mush

Like the fish pirão from Bahia, Angolan kixiluanda uses palm oil, onions, tomatoes and pieces of boiled, roasted or fried fish to produce a broth that will be thickened and cooked with manioc flour. Among the few differences, in Angola fresh parsley is used in place of coriander

Credits: Story

*Have a contribution? E-mail us: contato@brasilagosto.org

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Black History in Brazil
Explore the history, arts, and culture of Afro-Brazilian experience
View theme

Interested in Food?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites