By Klaus with K – CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1970179
Olympic games are going at full speed, these are two exciting weeks! So much to follow, we tend to stay up late trying to catch up with the events we enjoy the most: swimming, running, track and field, synchronized diving, gymnastics, volleyball, beach volleyball, soccer, and this time even golf is keeping us glued to the TV screen… Three words for you: Simone Biles rocks.
In this post I share a full menu with Brazilian goodies published in previous years, but first I offer a new take on Shrimp Moqueca, adapted in honor of the games.
SALLY’S GOLDEN SHRIMP MOQUECA
(from Bewitching Kitchen)
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons coconut oil (or dendê oil, if available)
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Serrano pepper, minced
salt and pepper
roasted bell pepper, cut in large squares (preferably yellow)
2 cans (15 ounce) yellow tomatoes, drained, briefly processed in blender
a lot of cilantro (a lot)
about 1/2 cup coconut milk (full fat, please)
lemon juice to taste
hot sauce to taste
Squirt a little lemon juice all over the shrimp and reserve.
Heat the coconut oil in a large saute pan with a lid. Add the onions and cook until golden and fragrant. Add the Serrano pepper and roasted bell pepper, cook for a couple of minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic, cook for about 30 seconds, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper. Now pour the processed yellow tomatoes, season with salt, pepper, a dash or two of the hot sauce of your choice. Cover the pan and let it all simmer for about 10 minutes in very low heat.
Add the shrimp, simmer until cooked, just for a few minutes, then add coconut milk and cilantro to the pan, stirring until warm. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and more hot sauce to taste. If you’d like, sprinkle fresh lemon juice right before serving. Perfect over white rice.
ENJOY!
to print the recipe, click here
If you don’t have canned yellow tomatoes, use red. I like to process them to have a smoother sauce. Yellow bell peppers would reinforce the golden color of the dish, but our store did not have any this time.
A BRAZILIAN MENU TO CELEBRATE THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Let’s get a trio of appetizers going, starting with Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread). This is a very easy recipe using a blender and a few minutes of your time. If you’ve never had Pão de Queijo, don’t blink. Make them right now! They were born gluten-free, which is an added bonus to many.
For the recipe, click follow this link.
Another great, traditional option, Pastéis (a bit like empanadas, but fried).
for the recipe, follow this link.
And perhaps my favorite, the one that gets the Golden Medal of Appetizers,
Mandioca Frita (Fried Yucca Root)
For the recipe, follow this link.
To serve with the Golden Moqueca I recommend basic white rice and a nice helping of Brazilian Farofa, to help soak up the flavorful tomato-coconut sauce.
For the recipe, follow this link.
You definitely need the Brazilian national drink to get into the Olympic spirit!
recipe for Caipirinhas can be found here.
Finally, for dessert, let’s share a triple round of goodies, starting with Brigadeiros,
because how could you not have brigadeiros during a Brazilian feast?
For the recipe, click here.
But it’s hard to beat the level of deliciousness of Cocada de Forno (Baked Coconut)
to get the recipe for Cocada de Forno, jump here.
And perhaps my favorite of all, as Brazilian as Brazilian gets, Mangas Flambadas, served comme il faut, with vanilla ice cream (but if you use Dulce de Leche it won’t hurt my feelings at all).
For the recipe, click here.
Top the meal with what my Dad used to call um cafezinho esperto (a smart coffee), and dream with Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals around the neck of your favorite athletes.
Let’s keep in mind that medals are great but the effort each athlete puts into being there to compete, that’s what impresses me the most. Imagine the personal ordeals they go through to finally be part of the Olympic team. Commitment, hard work, mental and physical struggles most of us could never face.
Quoting a great phrase from an advertisement for Under Armour:
Watch the video in full here. It is moving, truly mesmerizing.
ONE YEAR AGO: Tomato Tatin
TWO YEARS AGO: Headed to Colorado!
THREE YEARS AGO: Farofa Brasileira
FOUR YEARS AGO: Thai-Inspired Pork Tenderloin
FIVE YEARS AGO: A yummy Brazilian cake: Bolo de Fuba’
SIX YEARS AGO: Summer’s Tomatoes
SEVEN YEARS AGO: Leaving on a jet plane…
Bewitching Kitchen 
Hell’s bells Sally – YOU are not staying up all night tho’ we are!! Come on buddy!! I have been told the swimming finals begin at 10pm ’cause that is the most ‘convenient’ time for the US viewers!!!! Huh???? Lovely to see the explosion of noise and colour whenever a Brazilian competitor is introduced!! But like many Down Under have put all else aside or even taken yearly holidays to follow whatever the diurnal rhythm may be!! Congratulations to your and yours on two fronts. Oh, the Brazilian recipes: we humbly say;: ‘thank you;’ and promise faithfully to try soonest!!! Best . . . fairest . . . always . . .
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indeed, harder for you living in Australia, that’s for sure – who cares, right? Every four years we can forget about sleeping for a couple of weeks… it’s all worth it!
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🙂 🙂 – two minds think alike!!! Enjoy the rest of the Games, Sally
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Hugs, Carina – we do oft seem to be on the same track !! 🙂 🙂 : !!!
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there you go! same wavelength!
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We are loving the olympics too 🙂 it kicks off early afternoon for us and goes into the night. In our house cycling is a key one to watch, and triathlon, plus we’re loving the diving, swimming, gymnastics, track, rowing, I watched the trampolining yesterday which was fab, and some of the dressage…there’s so much great choice. And yes, Simone Biles is superhuman!! Like you say, they’re all amazing, the sheer determination, and dedication that every single participant has is awe inspiring. I love it, seeing the sheer power of their minds is just amazing.
And I love your post! All those gorgeous Brazilian dishes – in particular the little cheese breads, I think Ben would LOVE those!!! Can I ask, is tapioca starch the same as tapioca flour? I just looked on Amazon and I wanted to check before I buy any. Thank you xxx
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as I told you by email, they are the same thing – go for it…. I don’t really understand how some people don’t care for the Olympic games – even if you are anti-sports, the excitement of following the competition, the many amazing stories behind the athletes, it’s a such a thrill…. we wish we could watch more of the events, but we tape everything and then go through jumping from one event to another. We really missed cycling completely this time… that was a mistake… ;-(
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Okay, I’ve ordered the four 🙂
I agree completely, the Olympics is about so much more than sport!! And there’s so much to watch, I miss things every time 😦
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This menu is so cool! I bet you are very proud, and Simone Biles does rock! Her story is amazing. I can’t wait to try these recipes!
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I am proud of the opening ceremony, which cost less than the previous one. Considering the difficulties Brazil is facing, I thought they did a spectacular job…. I know there has been a ton of problems, Rio was not ready to host it, let’s face it. But overall things are moving nicely… The consequences for the country won’t be easy to deal with, it might very well break them financially. But, the decision to host was made on a different time, and it all degenerated politically ever since. Very sad. But for now, we cheer!
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Sally – have sat here awhile wondering whether I should offer my ‘tuppence’! After all neither you nor I could have made any difference! Just wanted to say I hugely agree that following ‘The Games’ has practically nought to do with playing or normally following sport: it is something one owes to one’s country – I follow three ‘descending’ on that principle: Australia, where I have lived for most of my life; Estonia which is my birth country and wonderful Hungary where I lived awhile during my second marriage! I would like to compliment Brazil on its ‘global warming’ uptake during its Opening Ceremony: wonderful in so many ways. Loved, loved, loved the Kip Keino ‘happening’. I did think the ceremony great for what it cost: innovative and exciting . . . all that said it was tho’ a tragedy about the conditions in the Olympic Village [our track team only arrived from Florida for its meet yesterday for that very reason] , the inability of the police to stop so many of our crew being attacked and robbed; of virtually not reaching The Stadium for the Opening Ceremony because of uncontrolled riots; the fact that our athletes could not be allowed out of the Village bar with a ‘special’ car + minder’ post 6pm or able to wear their uniform outside the sports venues . . . the knife attacks on our officials, the multiple fires/thefts etc. et al . . . desperately sad to remember after . . . I truly hope we can remember Rio kindly . . .what a damn pity as far as an obviously beautiful city is concerned . . .
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I know Rio and one thing I can say, the place was not ready for it, and I doubt it could be ready for an event of that magnitude. Ever. Not a nice thing to say, but it is the truth.
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Sad for all the world . . . the Ryan Lochte attack has brought it home to the States . . . that too will pass and we will still sing about the “Girl from Ipanema’ and want to go ‘to Rio’ . . . love . . .
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What a fantastic idea! Thanks for the menu. I’ve been watching Olympics like crazy, but I realize now that I’ve been noshing on all the wrong foods while doing so!
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there’s still time to eat like a native Brazilian… 😉
watched the women’s marathon today…. still in awe!
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All of these look amazing! We plan to have another Brazil themed dinner before the Games are over. We really have to try those brigadeiros!
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Oh, YOU MUST… You really must… in my blog I have other variations, but you need to do the traditional, chocolate kind first. You will love them!
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I love it Sally! We are also keen Olympic viewers (and vicarious participants ;d) – we’ve been on a major shrimp roll this past month and your version looks like one I want to try! How have I not noticed/come across canned yellow tomatoes before? Such a great idea. I will definitely be on the lookout. New Mexico green chile peppers are in season – I think they could be a beautiful thing here – thank you for the inspiration.
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I NEED to make that shrimp moqueca! Looks easy, delicious, and beautiful!
And yucca fries… love those!
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I can’t wait to try these recipes! Thanks!
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What a treat both the Olympics and your fantastic menu … I cant wait to try some of these out.
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