Vatapá

Dive into the rich, flavorful world of Afro-Brazilian cuisine with Vatapá. Originating from the vibrant culinary traditions of Bahia, this creamy dish combines the unique flavors of shrimp, nuts, and exotic oils, offering a taste experience that's both hearty and comforting.

Ingredients

🍤 400g dried and smoked shrimp
🥜 300g shelled peanuts toasted and unsalted preferred
🌰 300g shelled cashew nuts toasted and unsalted preferred
🥥 200ml coconut milk
🌴 200ml dendê oil palm oil
🌿 1 cup green herbs cheiro verde
🍞 1 cup breadcrumbs farinha de rosca
🧂 Given as salt to taste
💧 1 liter water

Instructions

1- Prepare Ingredients:

• Use a food processor e.g., a generic model to grind the cashew nuts and peanuts to a coarse flour consistency. Set aside in a bowl.
• Process the dried and smoked shrimp until finely minced. If fresh shrimp is used, sauté them first, then blend into a sauce.

2- Cooking the Vatapá:

• In a saucepan, combine the ground nuts, shrimp, breadcrumbs, a pinch of salt, coconut milk, and dendê oil.
• Add 1 liter of water to the mixture.
• Place the pan on an induction stove over medium heat and stir continuously using a "Home Style" spatula to prevent the mixture from sticking and burning.

3- Cooking to Consistency:

• Continue stirring the mixture for about 25 minutes until it thickens to a creamy, smooth texture.

4- Final Touches:

• Once thickened, incorporate the chopped green herbs and stir well.
• Adjust the seasoning with salt as needed.

5- Serving Suggestions:

• Serve Vatapá hot with plain white rice, alongside Moqueca (Brazilian fish stew), or with galinha caipira (free-range chicken).
• Garnish with additional green herbs and whole cooked shrimp for presentation.

Prep Time: ~10 minutes plus additional time if using fresh shrimp
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: ~35 minutes
Servings: 6
Equipment: Food processor, saucepan, induction cooktop, spatula Home Style, measuring jugs, serving bowls

Cooking Tips

• Ingredient Selection: Use unsalted, pre-toasted nuts for the best flavor. Smoked and dried shrimp is traditional but fresh shrimp is a viable alternative if sautéed and blended.
• Consistency Control: Aim for a creamy texture with some textural crunch from the nuts.
• Flavor Balance: Carefully adjust the salt because shrimp and nuts might already contain sodium.
• Stirring: Constant stirring is essential to avoid burning and ensure a smooth composition.

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Vatapá