Brazilian Sides & Breads: Farofa, Pão de Queijo & More

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Brazilian Sides & Breads

Brazilian tables build around rice and beans, but it's the sides that steal the show — toasted farofa, crispy cheese bread, and fried cassava all find their way onto every plate.

7 breads & sides, each with a recipe ↓

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Brazilian tables build around rice and beans, but it's the sides that steal the show — toasted farofa, crispy cheese bread, and fried cassava all find their way onto every plate.

Brazil's National Side Dish

Farofa

Brazil's national side dish — toasted cassava flour tossed with butter, bacon, or herbs, sprinkled over rice, beans, and barbecue alike.

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More Brazil Breads & Sides to Try

Pão de Queijo

Brazil's beloved cheese bread — crisp outside, chewy inside, made with tapioca flour and no gluten at all.

Feijão Tropeiro

A hearty Minas Gerais classic of beans, bacon, sausage, egg, and toasted cassava flour cooked together.

Mandioca Frita

Cassava root fried until golden and crisp — Brazil's answer to French fries.

Bolinho de Bacalhau

Crispy salted codfish fritters, a Portuguese-rooted favorite at any Brazilian gathering.

Batata Palha

Thin, crunchy shoestring potato sticks, scattered over rice, salads, and stroganoff.

Brazilian Black Beans

Three ways to cook the daily pot of black beans: stovetop, pressure cooker and slow cooker.

A Guide to Brazilian Sides & Breads

No Brazilian plate is complete without farofa, toasted cassava flour that soaks up everything on the plate. Pão de queijo is the chewy cheese bread served at every breakfast, feijão tropeiro is beans with farofa, sausage and egg from Minas Gerais, and mandioca frita is the cassava fry that beats potatoes. Bolinho de bacalhau comes from the Portuguese side, and batata palha, shoestring potatoes, tops stroganoff and hot dogs alike.

Start with the recipes above, then see all Brazilian side dishes, or explore all Brazilian food and Latin American and Spanish breads and sides.

Craving more Brazil flavors?

Explore our complete roundup, or browse all Brazil food guides and recipes.

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