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Vaca atolada: photo of the dish
Illustrative photo: Emerson Pardo — CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Meat

Vaca atolada

A Brazilian beef and short rib stew, simmered with cassava, plantain and vegetables. Its name means "cow stuck in the mud", and it is very popular in the Northeast, especially along the coast.

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Ingredients

Ingredients

Spices & seasoning

Optional extras

On the side

Instructions

  1. Cut the meat into large cubes of about 3 cm, then season with salt, pepper and paprika.
  2. Heat the oil in a large casserole and sear the meat in small batches until well browned on all sides.
  3. Add the diced onion, garlic, pepper and tomatoes, then fry for 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in the tomato purée, cumin and bay leaf, then mix for a minute.
  5. Pour in the water or stock, bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer covered for 1 hour 15 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, cut the cassava into large chunks and the plantains into thick slices.
  7. Add the cassava to the pan and cook for 20 minutes, then add the plantains and continue cooking for 15 minutes, until the cassava is tender.
  8. Adjust the seasoning and serve hot with white rice.

Variations and tips

Pressure cooker version. To save time, cook the meat for 40 minutes in a pressure cooker, then add the cassava and plantains 15 minutes before the end.

Using what's available here. If you can't find fresh cassava, use a firm-fleshed potato, which holds its shape well during cooking.

More ideas

Original Ecomely recipe.