Authentic Brazilian Home Cooking: Simple, Delicious Recipes for Classic Latin American Flavors

Mesquita, who blogs at Olivia’s Cuisine, makes her debut with a cookbook that’s gorgeous from start to finish, featuring not just beloved family recipes but also dishes reflective of the broad scope of Brazilian cuisine. The book is divided into five sections: Carnes (meats, including beef, chicken, pork, and seafood), Vegetarianos (vegetarian dishes and sides), Arroz e Feijão (rice and bean dishes), Petiscos (snacks, appetizers, and bar food), and finally, Sobremesa (desserts and treats). Pictures accompany each of the recipes. While most ingredients should be available at local grocery stores in the United States, a trip to a specialty market might be needed for others. Readers can explore classic dishes such as carne loca (braised beef with onions, tomato, and peppers, generally served in a bread roll), a vegetarian version of moqueca (typically a stew made with seafood), and an instant-pot recipe for feijoada, the rich black bean stew that serves as Brazil’s national dish. Along the way Mesquita provides extra information on foods that are typical of the various states and regions of Brazil.