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Farofa
Toasted manioc meal with butter, onion and garlic: the crunchy topping for rice, beans and stews
Farofa is on the table at almost every Brazilian meal, from feijoada to Sunday barbecue: coarse manioc (cassava) meal toasted in butter or olive oil with onion and garlic until golden, sandy and nutty. Sprinkle it over beans, stews and moqueca to soak up the juices and add crunch. Bacon is common in the South-East; this butter version is the classic everyday one (use olive oil for a vegan farofa). Chef's tip: toast the manioc over a medium-low heat, stirring constantly, and go by smell and sound. It's ready when it smells like toasted hazelnuts and sounds dry and sandy against the spoon; high heat scorches it in seconds.
- Total time
- 17 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Melt the 2 ⅛ oz butter in a wide frying pan over a medium heat until it foams. Add the 1 onion and fry for 5–6 minutes, until soft and golden.
6 minStep 2: Add the 2 garlic cloves and stir for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Step 3: Turn the heat to medium-low and pour in the 9 oz manioc meal (farinha de mandioca). Stir and toss continuously for 4–6 minutes, until every grain is coated, it turns light golden and smells toasty. Raw manioc meal can taste floury, so don't stop too soon.
6 minStep 4: Season with the ¾ tsp salt and the ½ tsp sweet paprika if using, then stir in the 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley off the heat. Serve warm or at room temperature; it keeps in a jar for 3 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 200 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does farofa take?
- About 17 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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