Portuguese Language Blog

So I’ve been a vegetarian for about… 5 days. And it’ll last another 35, as I’ve given up meat for lent.  But in order to take this on for a person who loves meat and lives in a country that loves meat, I’ve been looking up a few fun vegetarian recipes that are not only yummy, but that are inexpensive and provide me with the nutrients I need!

I came across quite a few recipes and sites.  This weekend I’ve already made Vegan Brownies (which were actually really good!), and this week, since it’s been raining and “chilly,” I’ve decided to make soup and found this recipe for a sopa, that’s SO Brazilian while at the same time, very vegetarian! Throughout the next few weeks, I’ll try to post the best recipes I find/make that are easy to find ingredients for in Brazil and abroad!

Creme de Feijão Branco, Abóbora, Cebola & Cenoura

Ingredientes

• Azeite
• Meio quilo de feijão branco (não esquecer de deixar de molho por um dia)
• Meio quilo de abóbora
• 1 cebola grande
• 4 dentes de alho amassados
• 1 punhado de sal marinho
• 3 cenouras cortadas aos bocados
• 1 punhado de salsa fresca cortadinha
• Água à gosto
• 1 colher de sopa de paprika
• 1 colher de sobremesa de gengibre em pó
• 2 colheres de sopa de polpa de tomate

Na panela eléctrica, colocar feijão branco (depois de uma noite de molho), abóbora, cebola, alhos, azeite, salsa, e cenouras. Cortar tudo em pedacinhos e colocar para dentro da panela. Colocar um sal marinho a gosto.

Depois de já estar tudo já meio cozido, juntar duas colheres de sopa de polpa de tomate, 1 colher de sopa de paprika e uma colher de sobremesa de gengibre em pó.

Acompanhar com pão e com couve salteada com alho e azeite. Bom apetite!

Super easy and healthy and sounds yummy for a rainy night, doesn’t it?!

Vatapá is a traditional dish from Brazil’s Northeast region, particularly Bahia and Pará. It’s a delicious fish stew made with shrimp, coconut milk, and palm oil, and comes from Brazil’s African cooking traditions. Today we’re going to learn how to make this prato brasileiro!

Vatapá Recipe

Ingredients

-2 cups torn pieces of white bread
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
-3/4 cup roasted, salted peanuts
-3/4 cup roasted, salted cashews
- 2 cups water or fish stock
-2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 lime
-1 pound of frozen shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 large onion
- 1 red chile pepper, roughly chopped with seeds removed
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 tablespoons palm oil, or vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste

Watch the instructional video below to find out the preparation and cooking instructions. You can also get the written recipe in Portuguese, or in English!

Pamonha is a traditional Brazilian food made from corn and milk eaten throughout the country. Sometimes it has additional fillings, like meat or cheese, but you’ll most commonly find it sold in its simplest state wrapped in a corn husk. The word comes from the Tupi Guarani language, which means sticky. In certain regions of Brazil, it can also mean “coward” or a dumb person in Portuguese. Today, we’re going to learn how to make it at home!

Pamonha Recipe

Ingredients

-12 espigas médias de milho verde bem novo [12 medium-sized ears of corn]
-4 colheres (sopa) de açúcar [4 tablespoons of sugar]
- ½ lata de leite [half a can of milk]
-1 lata de leite condensado [one can of condensed milk]

Get the full recipe (in Portuguese) here!

Check out a video recipe and explanation about pamonha below.