Brazil is a country teeming with life, color, and excitement. Full of delicious food, bright costumes, and spirited entertainment, the Rio de Janeiro Carnival is one of the most beloved and highly-anticipated events of the year. Brazilian Carnival, which is held annually on the Friday before Ash Wednesday, highlights the cultural diversity of the area, which includes influences from Italy, Brazil, and the Caribbean. One of the most exciting parts of Carnival is, of course, the delicious food. But you don’t have to buy a plane ticket to recreate the festive spirit at home. International Fresh Market will outline a few Carnival favorites, all of which can be made with Brazilian food products from our store.
Carnival in Brazil: Feijoada & Coxinha
Brazilian Carnival is a community event that celebrates the importance of food, family, and fun. Many participants take to the streets to enjoy delicious street food and hearty communal meals. One of the most traditional foods of Carnival is feijoada. Known as Brazil’s “national comfort food,” this one-pot dish is made with black beans, pork, sausages, garlic, and bay leaves. Garnished with orange slices for serving, feijoada is slow-cooked for hours before being ladled over bowls of rice, collard greens, and toasted cassava flour.
Coxinha is a handheld delight that has been dubbed the “ultimate Brazilian snack.” Bundles of deep-fried dough are filled with shredded chicken, cream cheese, flour, butter, and breadcrumbs before being fried until golden brown. The trick to light, flaky coxinha is to boil the dough prior to shaping and filling. It’s been a favorite Carnival street food for decades because it is both portable and delicious. Pair coxinha with your favorite spicy sauce or salsa and discover one of the truly unparalleled flavors of Carnival.
Carnival in Italy: Chiacchiere & Frittelle
Italian food and traditions have long played a role in the Brazilian Carnival. In fact, the masked celebrations of Venice and Viareggio have a lot in common with Carnival, with all three festivals centering around costuming, food, and all-day revelry. Sweet treats are a vital part of Italian Carnival, from light pastries to decadent cookies and other handheld snacks.
Chiacchere are crispy fried pastries made from light dough that is quick-fried and dusted with powdered sugar. Simple ingredients, including flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and liqueur make up the dough, which is then rolled thin and cut into strips. The strips are then fried and dusted with powdered sugar while still warm. Different regions have variations on chiacchere, with some opting to include citrus or dip the fried dough in chocolate before serving. If making chicchere at home, consider making a bar of various toppings and allowing your guests to finish their doughnuts as they prefer while they are still fresh from the fryer. Just exercise caution when using a deep fryer while guests are in the house. Alternatively, you could prep the doughnuts in advance and keep them warm on a tray in the oven before adding toppings.
Frittelle is another popular Carnival treat. These little Italian doughnuts are fried dough balls filled with raisins and custard or simply dusted with sugar. The dough is light and sweet, made with flour, yeast, milk, sugar, eggs, and flavorings like fresh lemon zest. Served warm and fresh directly from street vendors during Carnival, frittelle are sure to make just as much of an impression when dished up on a plate to guests at your home.
Carnival in the Caribbean: Jerk Chicken & Callaloo
The Caribbean spirit infuses every part of the festival, from the lively mix of African, European, and Indian influences in certain foods to the rhythm of the music that’s played during Carnival. You’ll discover that influence in some of Carnival’s most savory food options, including jerk chicken. This wildly popular entree is a smoky, spicy dish that first gained traction in Jamaica and is now beloved all around the world.
To make jerk chicken, bathe chicken cuts of your choice in a dry marinade of Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, garlic, ginger, and thyme. Marinate the chicken and slow-grill over pimento wood for the most authentic flavor. Jerk chicken can be served in whole pieces, or shredded and served over rice or beans. Versatile and intensely flavorful, jerk chicken is a Carnival staple. To add a tropical touch to your jerk chicken, consider adding coconut milk to the marinade or serving the chicken over a coconut-infused bowl of rice.
Callaloo is a hearty, flavorful side dish that pairs perfectly with chicken or rice. Callaloo is a nutritious, greens-based dish found all across the Caribbean. It is particularly popular during Carnival since it pairs so well with simple proteins like chicken and pork. Prep it at home by simmering callaloo leaves (or a substitute like spinach) in coconut milk, okra, onions, and seasonings until the leaves are tender. The slow simmer process allows depth of flavor to develop in the callaloo and provides a healthy yet decadent counterpoint to all the rich, fried foods found during Carnival celebrations.
Get Brazilian Food Products at International Fresh Market
Whether you’ve been lucky enough to celebrate Carnival in Brazil or have experienced some of the joy of this festival somewhere else in the world, there’s no doubt that the energy and excitement are one-of-a-kind. If you want to bring the spirit of Carnival into your home, consider making one or all of these delicious, traditional Brazilian Carnival dishes this year.
At International Fresh Market, we have all the Brazilian food products you need to recreate Carnival at home. As your go-to Latin grocery store in Naperville, we have everything from pantry staples like beans and rice to fresh vegetables and all the high-quality meats you need to prepare a feast. Don’t forget to visit our spice aisle to pick up seasonings that will allow you to infuse your dishes with intense Latin flavor. Contact us to learn more about what we have to offer or ask one of our friendly associates how you can easily make any of these dishes at home.
