Pizza

Pizza in Brazil is a unique experience.  There are loads of possible toppings, some familiar, some not so much.  Stroganoff, bolognaise, broccoli, German sausage... if you can imagine it, someone has probably put it on a pizza! 

Frango com catupiry pizza

Special mention goes to a cheese called Catupiry, a creamy cheese that originated in Minas Gerais.  The name comes from the native Tupi language meaning excellent and with good reason!  It is a very popular pizza topping in Brazil and goes with practically everything – one of my favourites is frango com catupiry (chicken with catupiry.)  Cooked chicken is combined with tomatoes, garlic and herbs then spread on the pizza with catupiry liberally squeezed all over it. Catupiry often makes another appearance in the crust.  Borda recheada (stuffed crust) is a popular option with catupiry being the cheese of choice. 

Just in case you aren’t feeling full after that, you have the option of sweet pizzas.  Growing up in Northeast Scotland, I had heard rumours of such a thing on occasion, but never came face to face with one until I went to a rodízio restaurant in Meia Praia, SC.  Rodízio restaurants are all-you-can eat restaurants where the food is rotated (hence the name) around the restaurant by the waiters.  Outside of Brazil, this will usually be a churrascaria (barbecue restaurant) – I will no doubt be writing more about these – but in Brazil, it could be anything from feijoada to pasta.  Personally I think pizza rodízio is a great idea, as you can try as many types as you like and sometimes looking at the pizza that is offered will make your mind up for you.  Of course, there are consequences as well, so prepare for that guilty, overfed and overfull feeling when you leave...

Sweet pizza with various toppings

Anyway back to sweet pizzas... An apparition of chocolate, strawberries and ice cream appeared before me (sorry, I’m back on the rodízio place) and I had to try it!  Of course, by this stage, you’ve probably already eaten too much (well, I have anyway) but if you have to have a dessert, why not have it in pizza form?  By the way, I just googled “pizza doce com borda recheada” and saw a picture of a pizza with strawberries and chocolate in the crust, I have to try that!

Before I finish, I’ll add a few words about pizza etiquette in Brazil.  Everyone has their own habits; personally I like to pick up a slice and attack it!  In Brazil, it is very rare that people eat pizza with their hands, whether in a restaurant or at home.  If you’re meeting the in-laws for pizza, don’t forget the knife and fork!

After all this writing about pizza, I need to go on a diet!  Or eat a pizza...