Traditional Bahian Caruru with Shrimp Cream and Pumpkin Sides
Caruru is a celebrated dish from Bahia, Brazil, often prepared for special occasions like the São Cosme e Damião festival. This recipe blends the rich flavors of tender okra with creamy shrimp and is served alongside a hearty chicken stew and a vibrant pumpkin side. Experience the culinary tradition and vibrant taste of Bahia with this exquisite recipe.
Ingredients
Caruru (Okra with Shrimp Cream):
🌿 1 kg Okra
🍅 1.5 units Tomatoes, chopped
🧅 1.5 units Onions, chopped
🌶️ 0.5 unit Bell Pepper, chopped
🌿 0.5 bunch Parsley, chopped
🍾 50 ml Vinegar
🧄 5 cloves Garlic, peeled and mashed
🥥 4 tablespoons Azeite de Dendê (Palm Oil)
💧 Water to cover half the okra
🧂 Salt
Shrimp Cream (Vatapá):
🍞 4 units Stale Bread
💧 200 ml Water for soaking bread
🥥 200 ml Coconut Milk
🥜 30 ml Azeite de Dendê (Palm Oil)
🍅 1 unit Tomato, chopped
🌶️ 0.5 unit Bell Pepper
🫚 30 g Ginger
🧅 1 unit Onion
🥜 30 g Broken Cashew Nuts
🥜 30 g Peanuts
🦐 50 g Dried Salted Shrimp
🧂 Salt
Diced Pumpkin (Cortadinho de Abóbora):
🎃 0.5 kg Brazilian Squash (Abóbora jacaré)
🍅 2 units Tomatoes, diced
🌶️ 1 unit Bell Pepper, diced
🧅 1 unit Onion, diced
🌿 0.5 bunch Chives, chopped
🥥 1 tablespoon Azeite de Dendê (Palm Oil)
🧂 Salt
Chicken Stew (Frango Ensopado):
🍗 1 unit Whole Chicken, cut into pieces
🌶️ 1 tablespoon Annatto Powder (Colorau)
💧 0.5 cup Water for annatto
🛢️ 0.5 cup Oil
Additional vegetable base ingredients are shared from the Caruru base
Instructions
- Prepare Caruru (Okra with Shrimp Cream):
- Cut okra into thin rounds.
- Heat azeite de dendê in a large pan.
- Sauté tomatoes, garlic, and onions.
- Add bell pepper and parsley, stir.
- Mix in okra and vinegar, sauté.
- Add water halfway up the okra, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Pour shrimp cream into the okra mixture, stir until thick. Remove from heat.
- Prepare Shrimp Cream (Vatapá):
- Soak bread in water for 2 hours.
- Squeeze excess water and reserve.
- Blend tomatoes, bell pepper, ginger, onion, cashews, peanuts, shrimp, and coconut milk until smooth.
- Add bread and blend to a creamy consistency, reserve.
- Prepare Diced Pumpkin (Cortadinho de Abóbora):
- Peel, de-seed, and dice the pumpkin.
- Heat azeite de dendê in a pan.
- Sauté onion, tomatoes, and bell pepper.
- Add pumpkin and chives, stir with salt.
- Cover and cook for 10 minutes until tender.
- Prepare Chicken Stew (Frango Ensopado):
- Clean chicken with vinegar.
- Use the vegetable base from Caruru to add flavor into a separate pot.
- Heat oil and add chicken.
- Dissolve annatto in water and add to the chicken, stir.
- Cook until tender and sauce thickens.
Prep Time: Approximately 2 hours for soaking bread
Cook Time: 90 minutes total for all components
Total Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
Servings: 6-8
Equipment: Chef's Knife, Wooden Cutting Boards, Aluminum and Non-stick Pots, Wooden Spoons, Mortar and Pestle, Blender, Gas Stove
Cooking Tips
- Use vinegar to reduce okra sliminess.
- Share the vegetable base to integrate flavors across dishes.
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Traditional Bahian Caruru with Shrimp Cream and Pumpkin Sides