World Flavors Cookbook

Vatapá

A creamy, spicy paste made from bread, shrimp, coconut milk, and peanuts, often served as a side or stuffing.

Cuisine: Brazil

Ingredients

• 3 units of stale French bread, soaked in milk
• 200g dried shrimp, cleaned
• 100g roasted peanuts, unsalted
• 50g cashews, toasted
• 200ml coconut milk
• 2 tbsp dendê (red palm) oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 piece of ginger, grated
• Salt and malagueta pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Blend the soaked bread, shrimp, peanuts, and cashews in a blender with a little coconut milk until smooth.
2. In a pot, sauté onion and ginger in dendê oil.
3. Add the blended mixture and the remaining coconut milk.
4. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and begins to detach from the bottom of the pot.
5. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve with moqueca or as a filling for acarajé.