Dona Flor (Sonia Braga) marries Vadinho (José Wilker), who is very handsome and passionate, but doesn't work or offer much else. She is able to make money for the family by cooking for her neighbors, but she gambles away most of the money. One day, Vadinho suddenly dies. Dona misses marriage, so she marries Dr. Teodoro Madureira (Mauro Mendonça). He is the opposite of Vadinho -- he has a great career, but he lacks passion. While Dona Flor is married to Teodoro, her late husband's ghost appears.
