Editing Brazilian cuisine (section)

===Southern Brazil's cuisine===
[[File:Cuca de banana.jpg|thumb|Cuca]]
[[File:Churrasco carioca.jpg|thumb|Typical Brazilian [[churrasco]], with cuts of meat such as [[picanha]] and [[Top sirloin|alcatra]], [[chicken]] [[heart]]s, [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] [[sausage]], [[garlic bread]] and [[Drumstick (poultry)|drumstick]]]]

In Southern Brazil, due to the long tradition in [[livestock]] production and the heavy German immigration, red meat is the basis of the local cuisine.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Somwaru|first1= A.|first2=C. |last2=Valdes|year= 2004|title= Brazil's Beef Production and Its Efficiency : A Comparative Study of Scale Economies – 1–19}}</ref>

Besides many of the pasta, sausage and dessert dishes common to continental Europe, ''churrasco'' is the term for a barbecue (similar to the Argentine or Uruguayan [[asado]]) which originated in southern Brazil. It contains a variety of meats which may be cooked on a purpose-built ''churrasqueira'', a barbecue grill, often with supports for spits or skewers. Portable ''churrasqueiras'' are similar to those used to prepare the Argentine and Uruguayan asado, with a grill support, but many Brazilian ''churrasqueiras'' do not have grills, only the skewers above the embers. The meat may alternatively be cooked on large metal or wood skewers resting on a support or stuck into the ground and roasted with the embers of charcoal (wood may also be used, especially in the State of Rio Grande do Sul).

Since gaúchos were nomadic and lived off the land, they had no way of preserving food; the gauchos would gather together after butchering a cow, and skewer and cook the large portions of meat immediately over a wood-burning fire (not exactly as gauchos also produced [[Jerky#Ch'arki|charque]]). The slow-cooked meat basted in its own juices and resulted in tender, flavorful steaks.<ref>[http://cantinhodochurrasco.ca/history/ Churrasco]</ref> This style has inspired many contemporary [[churrascaria]] which emulates the cooking style where waiters bring large cuts of roasted meat to diners' tables and carve portions to order.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sumayao|first=Marco|title=What Is a Churrascaria?|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-churrascaria.htm|publisher=WiseGeek|access-date=2014-02-27}}</ref>

The ''[[mate (beverage)|chimarrão]]'' is the regional beverage, often associated with the [[gaúcho]] image.

The most typical dishes of [[Rio Grande do Sul]] cuisine are [[churrasco]], [[Mate (drink)|chimarrão]], [[arroz carreteiro]], fried [[polenta]], galeto, [[Streuselkuchen|cuca]], and [[sagu (dessert)|sagu]], among others.<ref>[https://revistasaboresdosul.com.br/top-list-a-tradicional-culinaria-gaucha/ 10 pratos típicos da culinária gaúcha]</ref><ref>[https://casalabordo.com.br/noite-gaucha-comidas-tipicas/ Noite Gaúcha: Comidas típicas do Rio Grande do Sul]</ref> In the region there is a large consumption of [[Brazilian wine|wine]], [[grape juice]] and white grape juice due to the south being the largest grape producer in the country, and artisanal cheeses and [[salami]]s.<ref>[https://forbes.com.br/forbesagro/2022/09/como-a-agricultura-familiar-gaucha-esta-segurando-uma-geracao-no-campo/ Como a agricultura familiar gaúcha está segurando uma geração no campo]</ref><ref>[https://g1.globo.com/rs/rio-grande-do-sul/noticia/vinicolas-do-rs-celebram-crescimento-nas-exportacoes-de-vinhos-e-espumantes.ghtml Vinícolas do RS celebram crescimento nas exportações de vinhos e espumantes]</ref> In the region, [[fig]], [[grape]] and [[peach]] jellies and jams are also very common. One of the most famous is chimia. The consumption of vegetables [[Food preservation|preserved in water, vinegar, sugar, salt and spices]], such as [[beets]] and [[cucumbers]], is also typical of the Southern Region.<ref>[https://g1.globo.com/rs/rio-grande-do-sul/campo-e-lavoura/noticia/2017/02/veja-o-passo-passo-e-aprenda-fazer-chimia-de-figo.html Veja o passo a passo e aprenda a fazer chimia de figo]</ref>