Brazilian Miniature Savory Pies (Empadinhas)

It’s been another crazy week, starting with me getting really sick and ending with my eldest suffering a fractured ankle. But, as they say, if you have time to whine then you have the time to do something about it.  So I decided to say Alhamdulillah and make some empadinhas!

I am truly thankful for my wonderful children, for my wonderful parents, husband, family, friends and you that come here to check my recipes.

Brazilian Cheese Puffs (Pão de Queijo)

If you have ever been to Brazil you know that there is nothing better than a cup of coffee and a pão de queijo in the afternoon.

The other day I was reading the latest Saveur and saw an article on Cassava (we call it Yuca in my house), a root that I really enjoy and use at home. I think it is worth a read and you can find it here. I was a bit disconcerted by the corresponding recipe for the famous Brazilian cheese puffs, pão de queijo. I’ve seen many recipes for pão de queijo and I myself make at home a non-conventional recipe without eggs, as you know one of my twins has egg allergies. However I had never seen a recipe asking for yeast and flour. But, I decided to keep an open mind and give it a try. It was a disaster. The dough was not thick enough to roll and the end result was cheesy cookies as my children called them.

Brazilian Potato Salad

Today I was filling out a permission form for my first grader to go on a school field trip. I wasn’t really paying attention and then I realized that the field trip is next week and they are going to the Botanic Garden. What? With the kind of weather we are having here in Chicago, I don’t think the Botanic Garden is an ideal field trip destination. Well, it isn’t for me at least. I’d prefer the indoors of the Science Museum in weather like this. But I guess kids don’t care so much, so I just hope they don’t get rained out like their field trip in the fall.

Vatapá (Fish and Shrimp Stew)

One of the things on my “to eat” list when I went to Brazil was my aunt Marcia’s vatapá. Vatapá is a traditional dish from Bahia and can take two forms: a thicker paste that is served as a filling for acarajé (black-eyed pea fritters) or a more stew-like version that is served as a main dish, which is what my aunt makes.

My aunt’s version is a bit different than most recipes you will find in that it doesn’t include traditional ingredients such as peanuts and dried shrimp, which works perfect for my family since my boys are allergic to peanuts. I watched her make and tweaked the recipe slightly when making it at home. Here is my version of this amazing dish.

Brazilian Shredded Chicken Croquettes (Coxinhas) and Padarias (Bakeries)

As I've mentioned before, Brazilians are very fond of snacking. Perhaps because dinner is traditionally eaten late, people always grab a bite in the afternoon. You can always find a bakery that sells not only breads, pastries and sweets, but which also includes a café selection of sandwiches, snack and good drinks. These are also popular places for breakfast on the go.

These bakeries/cafes also serve traditional savory snacks called “salgadinhos," which are very popular among Brazilians and include pão de queijo (bite-size cheese puffs made with tapioca starch), rissoles, empadinhas (bite-size pies made of buttery crust) and even snacks of Lebanese origin that have become very traditional in Brazilian cuisine, quibes and esfihas (kibbeh abd sfiha).

But the queen of salgadinhos, very popular among Brazilians of all ages is coxinha, shredded chicken enclosed in dough shaped to resemble a chicken drumstick (coxa, and from there coxinhas or small coxa) and deep fried.

Farmer Markets, a Brazilian tradition (Feiras) and Avocado Shake Recipe

These days many in the US are turning more and more toward buying fresh food from local farmers and neighborhood street markets. Brazilians have been doing this forever. Street markets, “feiras” as Brazilians call them, have always been where we shopped for much of our home goods. Sure, retail chain supermarkets are increasingly gaining in popularity for the same reasons of convenience they've always been a hit in the US, but feiras are still are the preferred source of fresh produce for the majority of Brazilian homes.

All over Brazil, every neighborhood has a weekly street market that sells fresh produce, meat, poultry and fish, spices, and other things such as dairy products and flowers. As a child, I really enjoyed these visits to the feira with my mother because I couldn't wait to visit the lady that sold handmade clothes for my Barbie dolls.

Market Musings in São Paulo, Brazil

São Paulo, Brazil, may not be an average traveler's chosen destination. It definitely doesn’t compete with Rio de Janeiro for the title of “marvelous city.” And while São Paulo doesn’t offer an array of natural attractions like the water falls of Foz de Iguaçu or all the wonders you'll find in Salvador, it is quite notable as one of the largest metropolitan and economic hubs of the world. It is overwhelmingly considered the gourmet capital of Brazil, offering over 12,500 restaurants representing more than 42 different ethnicities which makes the city a top destination for any foodie.

And for anyone who appreciates food, a visit to São Paulo Municipal Market, or Mercadão (Big Market) as it is dearly called by locals, is a must and a delight for all senses. At Mercadão not only you can see fruits that you never dreamed existed but you can try all of them as the sellers offer free samples for buyers. Other offerings include meats, olives, cheeses, dried fruits and nuts, spices and almost everything a gourmand heart desires.

Salted Cod Fish Baked in Coconut Milk

The presence of bacalhau (salted cod fish) in Brazilian cuisine is a cooking legacy left by Portuguese colonization. This is the time of year when dishes with this fish are especially present at Brazilian tables.

Today’s dish is a recipe from my grandmother. This is very similar to Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá but the coconut milk gives it a tropical, Brazilian twist.

White Chocolate Custard (Brigadeirão Branco)

It is wonderful to go back to the place you grew up and be together again with loved ones. Being with family is truly the best place to be!

And of course there is no family reunion without a lot of food, at least when it comes to my family. From my first meal back in Brazil I bring you a dessert prepared by Odete who has been helping my family for over 20 years. Her food is delicious and her desserts, amazing!

Brazilian Chicken Soup (Canja de Galinha)

The Thais have Tom Kha Gai, the Malays Sup Ayam, the Serbians Kokosja Supa and my little, half-Brazilian kiddos often savor one of my homeland specialties, “Cangela”.

My mom has been making Brazilian chicken soup for my kids since they started eating solids and they love it! In Brazil, chicken soup is called Canja but in my kids "Portu-English" it became “Cangela”. But don’t be fooled, the Brazilian chicken soup served in my house is the real thing despite my kids cute nickname for it.

Brazilian Eggplant Salad

As Eid quickly approaches I'm forced to think of what to serve to family and friends. One of the first things that came to mind is this eggplant dish because it is simple yet impressive, and very versatile. You can make it an antipasto for a sit-down dinner served with crunchy Italian bread or serve at an informal lunch with friends as a sandwich filling on batbout (Moroccan Pita Bread – recipe to follow).

 

Almond Cake Roll with Dulce de Leche

This week was my first grader's first field trip to a pumpkin farm. He was very excited that I was leaving his twin brothers with a good friend so that I could come along with his class. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and the field trip to the patch was cancelled due to the crazy "Cyclone" that hit Chicago.

Pineapple Mint Juice

In Brazil people drink a lot of natural fresh juices. Restaurants serve a variety of unique flavors that compete head-to-head with the funkiest of sodas.

Walnut Milk Fudge - Camafeu de Nozes

This is the last week of Ramadan so if I don’t have time to post again, Eid Mubarak! InshAllah I hope you and your families were able to reap the great rewards of this past most blessed month of Ramadan.

As our family gears up to celebrate the end-of-Ramadan holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, sweets are on my mind. Because, as we all know, you can't celebrate Eid without some serious dessert on hand. I thought this recipe would make a nice addition to your confection table. Called Camafeu de Nozes, literally translated as walnut cameo brooch, these Brazilian sweets are traditional at weddings and, where I grew up, at birthday parties as well. The inside is a walnut fudge (no chocolate) covered by fondant and decorated with a walnut. Served individually on candy cups (mini-muffin liners), these treats are both elegant and delicious.

Rice Pudding

Rizogalo in Greece, Budino di Riso in Italy, Arroz con leche in most Spanish speaking countries, Roz bil Halib in the Arab world - baked or boiled, these are all slight variations of simple, yet delicious rice pudding dessert. In Brazil every family has its own recipe and tricks for turning out this fabulous treat we call Arroz Doce but most always include the following main ingredients: milk, sugar, cinnamon and of course rice.

Brazilian Condensed Milk Flan

I must admit I wasn’t very happy when Brazil got disqualified from the World Cup. Not to worry though, I moved on by taking comfort in a dessert filled with fabulous childhood memories. A classic Brazilian Flan can lift anyone's spirits.

Rissoles (Brazilian Savory Snack)

We're in the midst of another exciting World Cup and I can’t believe I have yet to mention it here at Halal Mama’s World Kitchen. While I don’t really follow sports (NBA, NCAA, MLB and the likes mean nothing to me) I do make an exception for the World Cup. I guess when it comes to soccer I'm as Brazilian as can be. I wear the shirt, the hair band, the glasses, carry the flag, and shift my schedule every which way so that I can watch every single Brazilian game. This year I even toted a little radio with me to my kids' swimming lessons so that I wouldn't have to miss Brazil playing while half-heartedly cheering on my little swimmers.