salpicão

Salpicão is a Brazilian cold salad traditionally made with shredded cooked chicken, mixed with vegetables, fruit, and a mayonnaise-based dressing. It is a staple of festive Brazilian cuisine and is commonly served during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, as well as at family gatherings and on restaurant menus. The name comes from the Portuguese word salpicar, meaning to sprinkle, reflecting the dish’s mixed, speckled appearance.

Typical ingredients include shredded chicken, grated carrots, peas, corn, diced bell peppers, onions, apples or pineapple, and raisins. Hearts of palm, olives, and parsley are common additions, and batata palha (thin fried potato sticks) is often sprinkled on top for texture. The dish is usually bound with mayonnaise, sometimes lightened with yogurt or a lighter sauce, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Preparation involves combining the ingredients with the dressing and chilling before serving. Variations exist by region and family, including versions made with tuna or cod, or with ham or cheese. While traditionally a cold, creamy salad, salpicão has diversified with lighter dressings and alternative proteins in contemporary Brazilian kitchens.