Caruru (food) facts for kids
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Caruru is a special Brazilian dish. It is made with fresh okra, onion, shrimp, palm oil, and yummy toasted nuts like peanuts or cashews. This delicious food is very popular in the northeastern part of Brazil, especially in the state of Bahia. People often enjoy Caruru with acarajé, which is a popular Afro-Brazilian street food. Acarajé is made from mashed black-eyed peas, shaped into a ball, and then fried in palm oil.
What Does "Caruru" Mean?
The name "Caruru" has an interesting history. One idea is that it comes from an African word, kalalu. Another idea is that it comes from the Tupi language, which was spoken by native people in Brazil. In Tupi, the word caá-laughu meant "the eating herb."
It's a bit confusing because "caruru" can mean both the plant and the dish!
Where Did Caruru Come From?
The history of Caruru is quite old. A long time ago, in the 1600s, a doctor named Guilherme Piso wrote about a "caruru" that was made from a plant, not okra. He said people ate this plant like spinach.
Later, in the 1800s, another explorer named Von Martius saw people eating "caruru-açu" in the Amazon. This dish was made with pounded chestnuts and an herb similar to spinach. This shows that the original "caruru" in Brazil was often made with local plants, not the okra we use today.
The Caruru we know now, with okra, chili, dried shrimp, and palm oil, has strong roots in African cooking. People from the Yoruba culture in Nigeria, who came to Brazil, helped shape this dish. Palm oil, for example, comes from a palm tree that is native to Africa.
At first, Brazilian caruru was a stew of herbs that people ate with other foods like meat or fish. Over time, it changed into the delicious and unique dish we enjoy today, mixing African and Brazilian traditions.
See Also
In Spanish: Caruru (plato) for kids
