Bahian Recipes

Bahian cuisine is the heart of Afro-Brazilian cooking, centered in Salvador and the state of Bahia. Dendê (palm) oil, coconut milk, dried shrimp, and malagueta peppers define its rich, bold flavors brought by enslaved West Africans. Moqueca baiana (seafood stew), acarajé (fried bean fritters), vatapá (spiced shrimp paste), and caruru (okra stew) are iconic dishes. Candomblé religious traditions deeply influence the cuisine, with specific dishes prepared for orixá deities.