🇬🇧 Pork consumption in Brazil

Today I will talk a little about pork as an option for our meals, based on the Brazilian reality.

In Brazil, although bacon is widely used, other cuts of pork are not used like beef. Considering that pork is cheaper than beef in the country, why are most of the typical meat dishes based on chicken or beef and, furthermore, do we consume relatively little other cuts of pork on a daily basis?

A supermarket I went to once held a small in-store event with a local chef to teach a recipe for a main dish (with pork), dessert, and wine tasting. I went because I like to try different things. At the time, I often bought pork tenderloin. Is very good.

And at this event, the chef made a comment on the little use of pork in Brazilian cuisine. He said that pork is used less in everyday life because at school we learn about various diseases transmitted by pigs and end up being afraid of consuming them. My observation: Curiously, no one is afraid to consume bacon, given its popularity in burgers, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. He also stated that this fear is currently unfounded because pork in good Brazilian supermarkets is inspected and safe for consumption.

It is true that the most famous Brazilian dish, feijoada, takes, in its most "root" version, pieces of pork such as ears, legs, etc. The more gourmet versions use different types of sausages. My taste buds prefer the sausage-only versions, but feijoada is far from a dish I love. Brazilian cuisine has much better dishes, in my opinion.

Some typical Minas Gerais dishes also include pork or lard, but most use beef or chicken.

For singles and couples, pork has the advantage of having smaller portions than similar cuts of beef.  Pork tenderloin is smaller than beef fillet, to the extent that a person can eat for three days or four or five meals for a couple. Assuming that those who live alone do not prepare several side dishes and a couple tends to prefer a slightly more elaborate meal. For someone like me who prefers fresher food and avoids freezing, it can be a differential.

It is also worth mentioning that it is usually possible to replace beef cuts in the kitchen with their pork equivalents.

If you are planning to live in Brazil, it is worth knowing the most common options for your food. If you already live in Brazil, it's interesting to think creatively and vary your menu.

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Nycka, the Nomad