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Bacon Farofa

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
A delicious spread of traditional Brazilian dishes featuring beef, plantains, and vibrant salads.

To make a proper farofa, you render the bacon until crisp, use that fat to toast the cassava flour until it turns golden, and keep the heat low enough to prevent burning. It provides a dry, textured crunch that acts as a base for stews and grilled meats.

Difficulty
Easy
Total time
15 min
Hands-on
15 min
Serves
4

Ingredients

  • 150g bacon, diced into small cubes
  • 2 cups toasted cassava flour
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Step by step

  1. Render the bacon

    Place the diced bacon in a cold skillet and turn the heat to medium. Cook until the fat has rendered out and the bacon pieces are crisp and brown.

  2. Aromatize

    Add the butter to the bacon fat. Once melted, toss in the onion. Sauté until the onion is translucent and beginning to pick up color from the bacon bits.

  3. Toast the flour

    Pour the cassava flour into the skillet. Stir vigorously to coat every grain in the fat. Lower the heat slightly.

  4. Finish

    Continue to toast for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring so it doesn't stick to the bottom. Add salt to taste. Turn off the heat and fold in the fresh parsley just before serving.

Questions people ask

Can I use cornmeal instead of cassava flour?

It is not the same. Cornmeal will change the texture and flavor profile entirely, turning it into a different dish.

How do I store leftovers?

Keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Reheat it quickly in a dry pan to regain the crunch.

Tips

  • If the pan looks too dry after adding the flour, add another tablespoon of butter; farofa should be moist from fat, not dusty.
  • Never walk away from the stove while the flour is toasting, as it will burn instantly if left unattended.
  • The texture should be granular and loose, similar to wet sand.

Variations

  • Egg Farofa: Crack two eggs into the pan after the onions are soft and scramble them into the bacon fat before adding the flour.
  • Sweet and Savory: Add a handful of golden raisins or finely chopped fried banana slices once the flour is toasted.