With its expansive coastline, Brazil is home to many popular seafood dishes sure to please even the pickiest seafood eaters.
Many come from the Bahia region in northern Brazil, giving them a familiar feel.Brazilian seafood dishes are often turned into stew and made with coconut milk as one of their main ingredients. Moqueca, Bobo de Camarao, and Vatapa are popular seafood stews. Casquinha de Siri and Camarao de Moranga are other seafood dishes not turned into stew, but that still use coconut milk.
This article will explore six different seafood dishes popular in Brazil.
They all contain coconut milk as a staple ingredient but vary in other forms and ingredients. Read on to learn more.
6 Most Popular Brazilian Seafood Dishes
1. Moqueca
Moqueca is a traditional seafood stew popular in Brazil.
There are two popular versions of Moqueca;
Moqueca Baiana is heavier, and it includes bell peppers, coconut milk, and palm oil as ingredients.
Moqueca capixaba—named for the residents of Espirito Santo—is a little healthier, using olive oil as well as a greater variety of seafood.
Most traditionally, it is prepared with saltwater fish such as black sea bass or Mahi-Mahi; however, it can also be prepared with shrimp.
When making Moqueca, it is traditional to use the following main ingredients alongside the fish:
- Garlic
- Onion
- Tomatoes
- Sweet peppers
- Coconut milk
You’ll sauté the vegetables in an oil of your choice before adding the Brazilian fish dish to a dutch oven, where it will all cook together.
Overall, the moqueca recipe will take around an hour to cook.
This famous Brazilian dish is served with farofa while it is still piping hot. If desired, you can add hot sauce like Piri-Piri on the side.
Moqueca is a very popular seafood stew in Brazil full of big flavors that will give you sweet and savory tastes.
2. Vatapa
Vatapa is another seafood stew famous in Brazil, though this one is typically served as street food or a religious offering.
Like Moqueca, Vatapa originates from the Bahia region of Brazil and has spread to the world from there.
Check out this article to learn more about the history of Vatapa.
While this dish can be altered to accommodate preferences or allergies, the two ingredients always used are coconut milk and palm oil.
Other elements that can be switched out if desired are chopped peanuts, bread thickener, and even shrimp.
You can swap out the shrimp for poultry if you prefer.
Another way to prepare Vatapa is as a filling in a popular street food called Acaraje.
Acaraje is a crispy, bite-sized cake made of beans and onion.
Chefs form the beans and chopped onion into a ball and fry it in oil.
Then, they add the Vatapa to the cooled cakes as a nice filling and serve it. (Typically as street food or at parties or festivals.)
3. Casquinha de Siri
Casquinha de Siri is a delicious Brazilian crab cake dish that is quick and easy to make.
These crab cakes are served on a shell and are a popular Brazilian appetizer.
They are made with the following ingredients:
- Crab meat
- Onion
- Garlic
- Bread
- Peppers
- Parmesan cheese
- Coconut milk
After the ingredients are mixed and stuffed into the shell, it is baked until golden and served immediately.
One critical detail to this dish is serving it hot. You can pair it with lime wedges or hot pepper sauce as long as it is still hot.
Casquinha de Siri is a popular Brazilian appetizer full of spicy flavors. Because it is so simple to pull together, it makes a perfect starter dish for any occasion.
You can make it in less than a half hour, so next time you forget to prepare an appetizer for your party, try Casquinha de Siri.
4. Bobo de Camarao
Bobo de Camarao is another Brazilian seafood stew made with shrimp and coconut milk.
This dish differs from other stews on this list because it uses hot peppers rather than sweet peppers.
The hot peppers give Bobo de Camarao its kick.
Traditionally served over rice and sometimes with hot sauce on the side, this dish is best enjoyed with family for comfort.
Bobo de Camarao is a colorful dish with a consistency similar to chowder.
Though it has many ingredients, Bobo de Camarao is a simple dish to make and an even better one to eat.
It is bright and flavorful, making it a perfect choice for a traditional Brazilian seafood dish.
5. Camarao na Moranga
Camarao na Moranga is a shrimp-stuffed pumpkin.
While this dish does give off fall vibes, people eat it year-round in Brazil.
This dish resembles a basic stew served in a pumpkin rather than a bowl, giving it extra flavor.
Camarao na Moranga is a delicious meal served at special events and functions as a centerpiece or beautiful serving dish.
It makes serving meals a lot more fun and festive.
For optimal results, be sure to pick a bright orange pumpkin.
Begin preparing the dish by cleaning and baking a sweet or pie pumpkin for around 45 minutes.
Then, spread cream cheese into the baked pumpkin and pour in shrimp stew after that.
Once everything is in the pumpkin, bake it for another 20 minutes before serving.
6, Caruru
Caruru is a flavorful shrimp and okra dish.
Though often associated with Bahian traditions and festivities, it’s a dish that Brazilians enjoy throughout the year.
Caruru combines shrimp, okra, and rich flavors like ground peanuts and cashews, creating a dish with a creamy texture and a touch of nuttiness.
The addition of dendê oil gives it a vibrant color and a uniquely Bahian taste.
This dish is more than just a meal—it’s a symbol of Afro-Brazilian heritage and is commonly featured at celebrations like the feast of Cosme and Damião.
Caruru is best served alongside rice or acarajé, turning any table into a festive spread.
To prepare Caruru, start by slicing fresh okra into rounds.
Then, sauté onions, garlic, and peppers in dendê oil until fragrant.
Stir in ground peanuts and cashews to form a creamy base, and add both dried and fresh shrimp for a rich seafood flavor.
Let the mixture simmer with okra until it thickens, creating a stew-like consistency.
The dish is ready to serve when the flavors have melded together beautifully.
Caruru is not only delicious but also a wonderful way to bring Brazilian tradition to your table.
Brazilian Seafood Dishes to Savor
Brazil’s seafood dishes are a testament to the country’s rich coastal heritage and its diverse cultural influences.
From the creamy Moqueca of Bahia to the unique presentation of Camarão na Moranga, these dishes showcase the incredible depth and variety of Brazilian cuisine.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Brazil or looking to bring a taste of its vibrant flavors into your kitchen, these seafood dishes are a delicious starting point.
Sources
- Great British Chefs: Brazilian acaraje with vatapa
- Saveur: Brazilian Shrimp Stew (Vatapa)
- Amigo Foods: Vatapa, Brazil’s Delicious Shrimp Stew
- Amigo Foods: 9 Tasty Brazilian Soups and Stews Not To Be Missed
- Trip-N-Travel: 10 Best Seafood to Try in Brazil
- TasteAtlas: 7 Most Popular Brazilian Seafood Dishes
- Better Butter: Casquinha De Siri (Baked Crab in the shell)
- TasteAtlas: Casquinhas de siri
- Food Editorial: Brazilian Recipe – Casquinha De Siri
- Farm to Jar: Brazilian Shrimp in Pumpkins – Camarao na Moranga
- Olivia’s Cuisine: Camarao na Moranga (Brazilian Shrimp Stuffed Pumpkin)
- Adore Foods: Brazilian shrimp stuffed pumpkin (Camarao na Moranga)
- Amigo Foods: Bobo de Camarao, Brazilian Shrimp Chowder Dish
- Brazilian Kitchen Abroad: Bobo de Camarao – Brazilian Shrimp Stew
- New York Times Cooking: Moqueca (Brazilian Seafood Stew)
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.