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One of Brazil's favorite street foods, coxinha (lit. little thigh) is a crispy croquette filled with chicken meat and cream cheese that is cleverly shaped into a chicken drumstick, then breaded and deep-fried. Coxinha originated around São Paulo in the 19th century, and by the 1950s it spread to Rio de Janeiro and Paraná, having now become one of the most popular salgados (savory appetizers) across the country.
Legend has it that coxinha was first made for the Brazilian princess Isabel's son who only liked chicken thigh meat. However, according to food historians, it was probably invented during the industrialization of São Paulo to be marketed as a cheaper and more durable substitute to traditional chicken cuts that were sold at the gates of local factories as snacks for the workers.
MOST ICONIC Coxinha
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Brigadeiro is a decadent Brazilian dessert made by heating three key ingredients together - unsalted butter, cocoa powder, and condensed milk, which are then rolled into a small ball, similar in shape to a truffle. First made in the 1940s, when fruit and sweets were in short supply, brigadeiro was born out of creativity with just a few ingredients.
According to one legend, Brigadeir Eduardo Gomes was running for presidency in 1945 with a slogan that said "Vote for Brigadeir, he's handsome and single". The slogan won over a lot of girls who baked and sold the sweets in order to raise funds for Brigadeir's campaign.
MOST ICONIC Brigadeiro
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Cachorro quente is the Brazilian version of a hot dog consisting of a bread roll filled with sausage links, ground beef in a chunky tomato sauce with green peppers and onions, and melted cheese. The dish is traditionally served with a wide variety of accompaniments such as mashed potatoes, corn, grated carrots, fries, peas, or pico de gallo, depending on the customers' preference.
The toppings are virtually endless, and each region in Brazil has its own preference.
MOST ICONIC Cachorro quente
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Pavé is a popular Brazilian layered dessert that is similar to tiramisu and does not need baking, and consists of a combination of ladyfinger biscuits, cream, eggs, condensed milk, and chocolate. It is a traditional dessert in Brazil, where every household has its own variation, so there are recipes for strawberry, pineapple, white chocolate, coconut, and peanut pavé, amongst others.
The only important thing is to serve this dessert cold and enjoy its unique flavors, textures, and varieties.
MOST ICONIC Pavê
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Açaí na tigela is a versatile Brazilian dessert made with mashed açaí berries, usually served in a bowl, topped with banana and granola, and combined with other fruits and guaraná syrup. The açaí palm thrives throughout the Amazonian basin, and its berries are characterized by an earthy flavor and dense texture.
The dessert can be found throughout Brazil, especially along the northeastern coast, where it's sold in most kiosks and juice bars. Açaí bowl was first popularized during the 1980s by a Brazilian Jujitsu founder named Carlos Gracie. As time went by, Brazilian surfers took part in the trend in the 1990s, and by the 2000s, the refreshing, flavorful, and healthy açaí bowl spread in popularity outside of Brazil, most notably in Hawaii and Southern California, becoming a staple of the surfers' diet.