Local food map Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Rio de Janeiro guides
Recipes 23
Pick a recipe
All Rio de Janeiro recipes
🐟
Snack Fish & Seafood

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥320kcal
💪15gProtein
🌾25gCarbs
🥑20gFat
🌿2gFibre
⚖️150 gServing

* Per serving · 150 g. May vary.

Allergens

🌾 Gluten 🦐 Shellfish

Prawn Turnovers

How to order / say it
Say it Pastel de Camarão — [pass-TELL deh cah-mah-ROW]
Order May I have a Pastel de Camarão, please?
Locally Gostaria de um pastel de camarão, por favor.
Say locally

A crispy deep-fried pastry filled with a prawn mixture.

Why try it?

This snack epitomizes the vibrant street food culture of Rio de Janeiro, known for offering quick and savory bites perfect for enjoying at a beachside kiosk or local market.

How it tastes

The pastry is light and crispy, shattering with each bite to reveal a juicy, seasoned prawn filling, enhanced with spices and herbs.

Origin & History — first documented: 1900

The pastel was brought to Brazil by Italian and Japanese immigrants in the early 20th century. Over time, it has become synonymous with Brazilian street food, with the shrimp variety being a local favorite in Rio.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🌾 200 g pastry dough
  • 🦐 250 g prawns
  • 🥛 50 g cream cheese
  • 🥕 2 tomatoes
  • 🧄 1 onions
  • 🫒 20 ml olive oil
  • 🌿 10 g coriander

Method

  1. 1 Cook prawns in olive oil with chopped onions and tomatoes until just done.
  2. 2 Remove from heat, mix with cream cheese and chopped coriander.
  3. 3 Roll out pastry dough, fill with prawn mixture, and fold into turnovers.
  4. 4 Deep fry the pastries until golden brown and crispy.
  5. 5 Drain excess oil on paper towels and serve hot.

More from Rio de Janeiro

Açai Bowl © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Vegetarian

Açai Bowl

Açaí na Tigela
ah-sah-EE nah tee-GEH-lah

Frozen açaí pulp blended with fruits and topped with granola.
Duck with Tucupi © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Duck with Tucupi

Pato no Tucupi
PAH-too noo too-KOO-pee

Duck cooked with tucupi sauce and jambú.
Caipirinha © Wikimedia Commons
Drink Vegan

Caipirinha

kai-pee-REE-nya

Classic Brazilian cocktail with cachaça, lime, and sugar.
Brazilian Grilled Steak
Main course Meat

Brazilian Grilled Steak

Picanha
pee-CAN-yah

A popular cut of beef, traditionally grilled over an open flame.
Moqueca © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Fish & Seafood

Moqueca

moh-KEH-kah

A Brazilian seafood stew with fish, coconut milk, and palm oil.
Codfish Balls © Wikimedia Commons
Starter Fish & Seafood

Codfish Balls

Bolinhos de Bacalhau
boh-LEE-nyoosh djee bah-kah-LAH-oh

Fried balls of salt cod and potato, a popular appetizer.
Bacalhau à Brás © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Fish & Seafood

Bacalhau à Brás

bah-kal-YOW ah Brahs

A flavorful salt cod dish with onions, eggs, and potatoes.
🥩
Main course Meat

Beef Flank with Cassava Flour

Carne de Sol com Aipim
CAR-nee deh soul koom eye-PEEM

Sun-dried beef served with cassava flour and sometimes cooked cassava.
Grilled Steak with Chimichurri © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Grilled Steak with Chimichurri

Carne de Churrasco
KAHR-neh deh shoo-RAH-skoo

Grilled steak with a flavorful chimichurri sauce.
🥩
Soup Meat

Black Bean Soup

Caldinho de Feijão
keow-DJEE-no deh fay-ZHAO

A comforting and nutritious black bean soup.
All South America recipes — Brazil — Rio de Janeiro — Prawn Turnovers
keyboard_arrow_up