Cachupa facts for kids
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| Type | Stew |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Cape Verde |
| Main ingredients | Fish or meat (sausage, beef, goat, or chicken), hominy, beans |
| c. 100-200 kcal | |
Cachupa (pronounced kash-OO-pah) is a very famous and tasty stew from the Cape Verde islands, located in West Africa. It's cooked slowly and is packed with ingredients like corn (also called hominy), different kinds of beans, cassava, sweet potato, and either fish or various meats. Common meats include sausage, pork, beef, goat, or chicken. Sometimes, it even has morcela, which is a type of blood sausage.
Many people consider Cachupa to be the national dish of Cape Verde. Each island in Cape Verde has its own special way of making this stew. For example, a version called cachupa rica usually has more ingredients and is richer than the simpler cachupa pobre.
What is Cachupa Guisada?
Sometimes, there are leftovers of Cachupa. Instead of throwing them away, people often fry them again! This re-fried dish is known by a few names, like Cachupa frita, Cachupa guisada, or Cachupa refogada. All these names basically mean "fried Cachupa".
This fried version is often eaten for breakfast. It might be served with a fried egg and a fried local sausage called linguiça, or even with fried mackerel fish. It's a delicious way to enjoy the stew a second time!
Cachupa in São Tomé and Príncipe
Cachupa is also one of the most popular dishes in São Tomé and Príncipe, another island nation. It's believed that the dish was brought there from Cape Verde. In São Tomé and Príncipe, it's often made with green beans, broad beans, and corn.
Cachupa in Music
The famous singer Carmen Souza even named her fifth music album after this traditional food. Her album, called Kachupada, was released in 2013. It shows how important Cachupa is to the culture.
See also
In Spanish: Cachupa para niños
