Churrasco facts for kids
Typical Brazilian churrasco.
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| Main ingredients | Meat (beef), sausage, queijo coalho, garlic bread, pork and chicken |
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Churrasco is a super tasty way to cook meat, especially beef, over a grill. It's a big deal in countries like Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Think of it as their special kind of barbecue!
When you hear "churrascaria," it usually means a restaurant that serves this grilled meat. Many churrascarias offer an "all-you-can-eat" style. Waiters bring skewers of meat right to your table. They slice the meat onto your plate, which is a fun way to eat! This serving style is called espeto corrido or rodízio. It's very popular in Brazil, especially in southern states like Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo.
Churrasco in South America
In Brazil, churrasco is the name for their barbecue. It started in southern Brazil. People believe the first churrasco was made by native communities. They roasted meat outdoors over a stone fire. They used a grill made from green wood.
The "pampa" region in South America was perfect for churrasco. This dish uses different meats like pork, sausage, and chicken. It's cooked on a special grill called a "churrasqueira." Some churrasqueiras have spits or skewers. Others just have skewers over hot coals. Sometimes, wood is used for cooking, especially in Rio Grande do Sul.
In Nicaragua, churrasco means a thin grilled steak. It's often served with a special sauce called chimichurri. This sauce is made from parsley, garlic, peppers, and olive oil. Nicaraguan immigrants brought this dish to the United States in the 1950s.
In Argentina and Uruguay, a churrasco is a thin, boneless beef steak. It's grilled over hot coals or on a very hot pan. The Gauchos, who were skilled horsemen, used to grill churrasco. It's now part of their national dish, asado. It comes with salad, potatoes, and sometimes a fried egg.
In Puerto Rico, churrasco always means skirt steak. It's cooked on a barbecue grill. The meat is often seasoned with a little sea salt. Sometimes, it's served with chimichurri sauce. Other times, people use a guava rum sauce or Ajilimójili sauce.
In Ecuador, churrasco is a common meal, especially in Guayaquil. The main part is grilled steak with chimichurri. It's served with plantains, white rice, French fries, a fried egg, and avocado slices.
In Guatemala, churrasco is a popular dish for family gatherings. It's usually topped with chirmol, a red sauce with chopped tomatoes and onions. It's served with corn, guacamole, grilled potatoes, black beans, rice, and tortillas.
In Chile, churrasco is a thin slice of steak. It's grilled and served in a local bun called "marraqueta." It's often topped with tomato, avocado, and mayonnaise. This is called a churrasco italiano. Another popular dish is churrasco a lo pobre. This means "poor man's churrasco." It has churrasco with French fries, a fried egg, and caramelized onions.
Churrasco in Other Countries
In Portugal, frango de churrasco is very popular. This is a kind of roasted chicken cooked on a churrasqueira. It's spiced with hot red chili sauce called piri piri, garlic, and paprika. Portuguese churrasco dishes are popular in countries with Portuguese communities. These include Canada, Australia, and the United States.
The word churrasco is also used in former Portuguese colonies. For example, a churrasco moçambicano is a grilled meat dish from Mozambique.
In Galicia, Spain, churrasco usually means grilled pork or beef spare ribs. Many Galicians who moved to America brought this recipe with them. Today, many people in Galicia enjoy making a churrascada, which is a big churrasco meal.
In the United States, churrasco-style restaurants have become very popular. Chains like Rodizio Grill and Fogo de Chão have helped this trend. These restaurants offer a taste of Brazilian barbecue.
Images for kids
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Brazilian barbecue
See also
In Spanish: Churrasco para niños
