Brazilian New Year’s Traditions: Recipes for Luck and Prosperity

New Year’s Eve in Brazil is more than just fireworks and resolutions—it’s a celebration deeply rooted in rituals and traditions that aim to attract prosperity, luck, and good vibes for the year ahead. From wearing white to symbolize peace, jumping over seven ocean waves for luck, or ensuring at least one piece of your outfit is brand new to invite fresh opportunities, Brazilians infuse meaning into every detail of the night. If you’re looking to add a touch of this magic to your celebrations, dive into these culinary customs that reflect the country’s rich culture and beliefs. Who knows? They might just bring you a prosperous start to the year.

Lentils: A Staple for Abundance

In Brazil, lentils take center stage at the New Year’s table. Thought to symbolize prosperity due to their coin-like shape, these tiny legumes are a must-have. Enjoy them in a hearty salad or a warm stew as you toast to a year of abundance.

New Year’s Lentil Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons diced bacon
• 1/2 smoked sausage, sliced (like kielbasa or andouille)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 2 cups lentils
• 5 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt to taste
• Olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pressure cooker over medium heat.
2. Add the diced bacon and sausage. Sauté until golden brown.
3. Stir in the onion and garlic, cooking until they’re soft and fragrant.
4. Add the lentils, carrot, water, and bay leaves to the pot. Stir to combine.
5. Close the pressure cooker lid and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes once it starts whistling.
6. After 5 minutes, release the pressure carefully and open the lid.
7. Taste the lentils and adjust the salt as needed.
8. Cook for an additional minute without the lid to allow flavors to blend.
9. Serve warm as a side dish or a hearty main course.

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Pomegranate: Seeds of Prosperity

Pomegranates are not only delicious but also deeply symbolic. Tradition says to eat the fruit’s seeds at midnight and save three in your wallet throughout the year to attract wealth and good fortune. This practice echoes ancient customs tied to fertility and growth, making it a beautiful way to start anew.

Pomegranate Caipirinha Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/2 cup pomegranate syrup
• 3/4 cup cachaça, vodka or sake
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon demerara sugar
• Crushed ice to taste

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the pomegranate seeds, sugar, mint, and pomegranate syrup. Muddle well using a muddler or the back of a spoon to release the flavors.
2. Add a handful of crushed ice and the spirit to the shaker.
3. Shake vigorously for 1 minute to blend the flavors and chill the mixture.
4. Fill a glass with more crushed ice and pour the caipirinha mixture over it.
5. Garnish with a sprig of mint or a few pomegranate seeds, if desired.

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Codfish: Progress and Prosperity

Fish, with its forward-moving nature, is a symbol of progress. Thanks to Portuguese influences, codfish (bacalhau) has found its way onto Brazilian tables and is now cherished as a dish symbolizing prosperity. Whether fried, baked, or stewed, fish dishes are a staple of the New Year’s feast in Brazil. Their connection to abundance is steeped in both spiritual and cultural significance, making them a flavorful and meaningful choice for starting the year on the right foot.

Baked Codfish Casserole Recipe

Ingredients

• 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of desalted codfish loin
• 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of potatoes, sliced into rounds
• 3 onions, sliced into rounds
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced into rounds
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into rounds
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced into rounds
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced into rounds
• 1 cup black olives
• Olive oil to taste
• Chopped parsley to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the Codfish:
   In a pot, place the desalted codfish loin and enough water to cover half the fish. Cook for 20 minutes. Check with a fork to ensure the fish is firm and cooked. Set aside.
2. Cook the Potatoes:
   In another pot, place the potato slices and enough water to cover them. Cook until tender but still firm (al dente). Drain and set aside.
3. Prepare the Vegetable Mix:
   In a skillet, drizzle a bit of olive oil and sauté the onion slices, green, red, and yellow bell peppers. Season with black pepper to taste. Cook until softened.
4. Assemble the Casserole:
   • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
   • In a baking dish, layer the cooked potato slices at the bottom.
   • Add half of the sautéed vegetable mixture on top.
   • Place the codfish loin pieces over the vegetables.
   • Add the remaining vegetable mixture, followed by the hard-boiled egg slices and black olives.
   • Generously drizzle olive oil over the entire dish.
5. Bake:
   Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes until everything is golden and fragrant.
6. Finish and Serve:
   Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving. Enjoy warm.

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Grapes: Sweet Intentions

Eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the year, is a widely embraced tradition. This simple yet meaningful ritual invites prosperity and peace into your life. Brazilians often carry the seeds as talismans for continued good luck.

Chocolate Cream Pie with Grapes Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 packages of graham crackers (or similar tea biscuits)
• 3.5 oz (1/2 cup) Brazil nuts
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• Chocolate shavings to taste

Chocolate Cream:

• 2 packets unflavored gelatin (about 0.5 oz total)
• 2 cans sweetened condensed milk (14 oz each)
• 2 cans heavy cream (12 oz each)
• 2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons rum

For decoration:

• Green grapes
• Red grapes
  
  Instructions:
  
• Prepare the Crust:
  • In a food processor, blend the graham crackers and Brazil nuts until they form a crumbly mixture.
  • Transfer the crumbs to a large bowl, add the butter, and mix with your fingers until it forms a cohesive dough.
  • Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 10-inch (25 cm) springform pan.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Set aside to cool.
• Make the Chocolate Cream:
  • Dissolve the gelatin in 6 tablespoons of cold water. Heat it in a double boiler or microwave until fully dissolved (do not boil).
  • In a blender, combine the sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, cocoa powder, and rum. Add the dissolved gelatin and blend until smooth.
• Assemble the Pie:
  • Pour the chocolate cream over the baked crust, spreading it evenly with a spoon.
  • Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until firm.
• Decorate and Serve:
  • Carefully remove the pie from the springform pan.
  • Decorate the top with green and red grapes, and finish with chocolate shavings.
  • Serve chilled and enjoy!

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Dried Fruits: A Nod to Sweet Fortune

Dried figs, dates, and peaches are popular additions to the New Year’s spread. Their sweetness represents the hope for an abundant and joyful year, and they pair beautifully with sparkling wine or dessert.

Caramelized Dried Fruit Tart Recipe

Crust

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (1.4 oz / 40 g)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (7.8 oz / 220 g)
• 1 large egg (2 oz / 60 g)
• 1 egg yolk (0.7 oz / 20 g)
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold (3.2 oz / 90 g)

Cream Filling

• 1 cup granulated sugar (5.6 oz / 160 g)
• 1 cup heavy cream (7 fl oz / 200 ml)
• 2 large eggs (4.2 oz / 120 g)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (0.17 fl oz / 5 ml)

Fruits and Nuts

• 12.3 oz (350 g) mix of nuts and dried fruits
  (Suggestions: dried figs, apricots, dates, raisins, cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc.)
• 1 cup granulated sugar (5.6 oz / 160 g)
• 3 tablespoons water (1.5 fl oz / 45 ml)

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Instructions

Crust

1. In a bowl, combine the granulated sugar, flour, egg, egg yolk, salt, and cold butter. Use your fingertips to mix until the dough is homogeneous, being careful not to overwork it.
2. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
4. Roll out the dough and press it into a 9-inch (22 cm) fluted tart pan, covering the bottom and sides. Blind bake for 15 minutes. Set aside.

Cream Filling
5. In a bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, heavy cream, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
6. Pour the mixture into the pre-baked crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until the filling is set and lightly golden.
7. Let the tart cool slightly, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Fruits and Nuts
8. In a pan, combine the sugar and dried fruits/nuts mixture. Stir over medium heat until the sugar begins to caramelize.
9. Add the water and continue stirring until the mixture is evenly coated and caramelized.
10. Quickly spread the caramelized fruits and nuts over the tart before the caramel hardens.

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Tips

• Use a mix of dried fruits and nuts such as dried figs, apricots, dates, raisins, cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds, and hazelnuts for variety.
• Once the tart is topped with caramelized fruits, do not refrigerate it, as the caramel may become sticky.