The Best Halal Restaurants serving Brazilian food. Toronto, Ontario

Brazilian cuisine is known for its fresh ingredients and colourful dishes. Root vegetables and fruits like cassava, yams, acai, guava, mangoes, and pineapple are used to add rich flavor to meals. A lot of Brazilian restaurants will capitalize on these serve barbecued meats, grilled fruits, and rich coffees.

Rice is a staple ingredient in most meals, as is fish due to the availability of fresh water in Brazil. Chili and palm oil are used to season dishes; however, most of the flavour comes from the use of fresh ingredients. The national dish of Brazil is a perfect example of how local produce can be used to create a masterful meal. The feijoada, a black bean stew that is cooked with salted beef, pork, and vegetables like cabbage, kale, potatoes, carrots, okra, pumpkin, and chayote. Sometimes banana is added for extra sweetness.

Popular desserts include brigadeiros, chocolate fudge balls, and cocada, a candy made with sweetened coconut. Cake is also a family favourite. In addition to the traditional chocolate, carrot, and cheesecake, Brazil also specializes in honey, passion fruit, and corn flour cake. Another item unique to the country is Cachaca, a liquor distilled from sugar cane.

Brazilian cuisine varies from region to region due to immigration and cultural differences. Northern Brazil has remained relatively untouched by immigration. Manioc flour, made from ground root vegetables, is commonly used to make bread or to coat meats. The acai is also native to this region of Brazil. It is a small dark-coloured fruit, similar in size to a cherry or a blueberry. It is considered a superfood. The northeastern coast of Brazil is much more influenced by African cuisine. Many dishes will include seafood, coconut milk, and palm oil.

Southern food includes a lot of pasta and sausage dishes. The climate is ideal for the herding of livestock, making pork and beef widely available to the people of this region. Pine nuts and other tree fruit are plentiful, while barbecued or grilled meats are popular choices. Restaurants typically capitalize on southern cuisine due to its European influences.

MenuPalace features some of the best Brazilian restaurants in the GTA.