Brazilian churrasco
Churrasco is the Brazilian answer to the barbeque or the Argentinian asado: A meal based around various meats grilled on charcoal. The Churrasco was developed in the south of Brazil, where most of the cattle is grown, by the gauchos (Brazilian cowboys). Nowadays churrascarias (restaurants serving a Churrasco meal usually on all-you-can-eat basis) can be found all around Brazil, and they are gaining popularity all around the world. A typical Churrasco meal takes several hours. It starts with some small starters, like grilled sausages, chorizos, chicken wings and pork ribs. Then the different beef cuts are served directly from the huge sword-like skewers on which they were grilled. The passadors (waiters of a churrascaria) are wandering around the place with skewers and sharp knives, cutting off pieces directly into guests' plates. Usually each guest has some form of indicator green on one side and red on the other, signaling whether he is willing to be served more meat or not. The whole stuff comes accompanied with a salad bar, farofa, rice and beans and of course plenty of cachaça and beer.
The following menu suggestion for a Brazilian BBQ is planned for more or less 10 hungry persons. Since usually a churrasco meal lasts several hours, serving some meal from time to time, plan for about 700g (1 lbs 9 oz) meat per person.
Menu
Starting Up:
The Real Stuff:
After Party:
Shopping List (for 10 persons)
Info & Comments
5 ripe tomatoes
1 head lettuce
1 head garlic
4 lime
fresh ginger
1 red hot chili pepper
6 eggs
700g (1 lb 9 oz) coalho cheese
10 pork sausages
20 chicken wings
40 slices bacon
1 Kg (2 lbs 3 oz) short pork ribs
2 Kg (4 lbs 7 oz) picanha
2 Kg (4 lbs 7 oz) beef ribs
Total preparation time: 6½ hrs
Preliminary preparations: Flan can be prepared a day before, some dishes require marinating (wings, pork)
Difficulty level: Medium - up
Special equipment: Descent charcoal grill, food processor/blender, charcoal
½ L (1 pint) milk
2 cans sweet condensed milk
½ cup red wine
1 cup manioc flour
1 can hearts of palm
red whine vinegar
sugar
coarse sea salt
salt
black pepper
marjoram
oregano
