Vatapa, Bahia. Brazil
Other than a providing a work force for the Sugar Barons, the Africans who were removed from there homes brought culture – music, Religion, artesiania, dance and of course gastronomy. Due to this huge displacement of people, Salvador is the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture in Brazil and its influence is unmissable. At night the colorful city throbs with Afro-Brazilian music that accompanied the interesting smells that waft through the lively cobbled streets. Here is a recipe for Vatapa, A typical Afro Brazilian recipe that is eaten as a side dish or spread inside Acaraje. 1 cup of dry shrimp 1. Spread the shrimp on a baking shallow baking tin and roast in the oven (180oc) for five minutes. 2. Remove from the oven, cool a little and in your fingers pinch of the heads and discard them. Place the remaining bodies in a pestle and mortar and grind into a rough powder. You can cheat and use the blender. 2. Add the garlic, ginger, cashew nuts, peanuts and cilantro to a blender and blend to a smooth paste. Pour into a bowl and set aside. 3. Now break up the bread rolls and put them in a liquidizer with the coconut milk and whiz until you have a smooth consistency. 4. In a large pan add a little dende oil and the onion and heat gently. Once the onion is softened add the garlic-ginger-nut paste and your pounded shrimp. Heat for a couple of minutes while stirring so all the flavors infuses. 5. Now pour in your bread and coconut milk and the remaining dende oil. Turn up the heat a touch and stir well with a wooden spoon. 6. Cook until you have a heavy and stodgy consistency making sure you stir regularly with a wooden spoon so none of the mixture burns on the bottom of the pan. Serve as a side dish in the middle of your acaraje.
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