A meal simple enough to be a weeknight dinner yet tasty enough to be a weekend guest meal or comfort food, Brazilian chicken stroganoff is easily the star of the dinner table. I have yet to meet someone whom this 15-minute dish cannot please.

WHAT IS A COMMON BRAZILIAN FOOD?

Brazil has some of the most amazing meat dishes. If you have not yet become convinced of this, you need to take a field trip to a Brazilian churrascaria in your area. You will not be disappointed.

Stroganoff is one of the carnivorous meals that Brazil does exceptionally well. It is creamy, smooth, and so comforting.

Traditionally, chicken stroganoff is a Sunday after-church food in Brazil, according to my husband. It is special and comforting–perfect for relaxing and enjoying family.

HOW DO BRAZILIANS MAKE STROGANOFF?

Interestingly, there does not seem to be a standard recipe for stroganoff, as even Brazilians themselves will admit. Every family seems to have their own version.

There are a few unifying elements that are almost always present in chicken stroganoff, however. One of the most obvious is the potato chip topping. The other is the cream. Add a few extra ingredients of your choosing and pesto! you have your own version of stroganoff….at least that is how several Brazilians have impressed the recipe upon me.

You see, in Brazil (as in much of the world), cooking by a recipe is something uncommon. You learn by doing and experimenting or by watching mom do and experiment.

This makes it a little difficult to nail down “the” recipe as a foreigner stepping into Brazilian culture, but it also adds an element of uniqueness that each family and circle of friends gets to cherish.

CAN YOU MAKE STROGANOFF WITHOUT PASTA?

When I think of stroganoff, my mind conjures up images of rotini smothered in ground turkey, cream, and mushrooms–the stuff of my childhood.

But Brazilian stroganoff is served altogether differently. It isn’t a sauce + meat + pasta dish. Instead, in Brazil the equation goes like this: sauce + meat over rice, topped with potato chip slivers. The result adds a bit of crunch and stores well in the refrigerator without becoming “goopy,” unlike pasta. (Not that you are likely to have any leftovers, with this goodness sitting on your table.)

HOW TO MAKE BRAZILIAN CHICKEN STROGANOFF

Making Brazilian chicken stroganoff is a simple process.

It begins with frying the chicken breast with several seasonings, including garlic (the one ingredient present in about every Brazilian dish).

The next step is to add the extras: mushrooms and corn. And then you make the sauce by pouring in cream and tomato paste. (Be careful not to add too much tomato paste. Stroganoff is best, in my opinion, with just a hint of tomato.)

And to finish it all off? Taste-testing. If your recipe needs more salt, add a little.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH BRAZILIAN CHICKEN STROGANOFF:

Loaded Peanut Butter Chocolate Muffins

Brazilian Avocado Smoothie

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I hope Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff makes its way into your kitchen.

Why not try it in combination with some other Brazilian recipes? You can find Avocado Smoothie (Vitamina) and other great recipes to pair with coxinha on our Brazilian Recipes page.