Farofa is toasted cassava flour. It sits next to grilled meat at a churrasco. Buy dry cassava flour (farinha de mandioca) at a Latin or Brazilian market — Julia is a low/budget bag, Amafil a mid option, Yoki a grocer alternate. Never tapioca starch; tapioca starch will not toast into farofa.
Farinha de mandioca is toasted cassava flour — harina de yuca, not tapioca starch.
At a glance
- Region: Across Brazil
- Yield: 500 g (about 1 lb 2 oz) farinha feeds 8 to 10
- Time: about 10 minutes in a skillet, just before the meat comes off, or earlier and rewarm
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Ingredients
- 500 g farinha de mandioca (about 4 cups)
- 100 g (7 tablespoons) butter
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 100 to 200 g (3 1/2 to 7 oz) bacon, chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon (1 colher de chá) salt, less if the bacon is very salty
Method
- Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Optional: render the chopped bacon first, then cook the onion in that fat and add the butter if the pan is dry.
- Cook the chopped onion until soft. Add the minced garlic and cook briefly, just until fragrant.
- Add the cassava flour and stir constantly until it is toasted and sandy gold, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon / 5 ml (1 colher de chá) salt, taste, and serve warm. The butter and bacon already carry salt, so taste before you add more.
How you know it is done
The flour is sandy gold, not raw white and not burnt. It should pour, not clump.
On the table
Serve next to sliced grilled meat. Brazilian tomato onion sauce (vinagrete) is the other usual side. That cook is separate: vinagrete.
What to buy
A Brazilian grocer is often cheaper when you find the bag. For readers buying online or in a US aisle: Julia for a low/budget farinha, Amafil as a mid option, or Yoki as a grocer alternate. Full kit: What to buy.
- Farinha, low: Julia farinha de mandioca crua (2×1 kg)
- Usual mid: Amafil, or Yoki. Grocer.
Next cooks
- Brazilian tomato onion sauce (vinagrete)
- Farofa with plantain (farofa de banana-da-terra)
- How to grill picanha on a kettle grill
- Authentic Brazilian feijoada
- Garlic bread on the grill (pão de alho)
Region: Across Brazil.
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