Brazilian recipe
Creamy Cassava and Shredded Beef Casserole (Escondidinho de carne seca)
A timeless comfort food featuring a velvety cassava purée layered over savory, slow-cooked shredded beef. A hearty dish that perfectly balances textures and bold flavours.
0.0 / 5 by 0 Reviews
Ingredients
1 kg cassava (boiled)
1 litre full-cream milk
500g requeijão cremoso
2 kg carne seca (cooked and shredded)
200g onion, finely chopped
200g butter
Grated Parmesan cheese for gratin
1 litre full-cream milk
500g requeijão cremoso
2 kg carne seca (cooked and shredded)
200g onion, finely chopped
200g butter
Grated Parmesan cheese for gratin
Where to find ingredients
You can source fresh cassava (often found as manioc or yuca) and onions at local fresh produce markets. For specific Brazilian ingredients like carne seca and requeijão, look for specialty international food retailers or well-stocked supermarkets that carry South American products. If you cannot find authentic carne seca, you may use thinly sliced, salt-cured, or slow-roasted shredded beef as a substitute, though the flavour profile will vary.
Preparation method
- Prepare the cassava purée by blending the boiled cassava with the full-cream milk and requeijão cremoso until the mixture is smooth and velvety.
- For the filling, melt the butter in a pan over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion until translucent.
- Add the cooked, shredded carne seca to the pan with the onions and sauté for a few minutes to allow the flavours to develop.
- Begin assembling the dish by spreading a layer of the cassava purée across the base of a baking dish.
- Distribute the prepared carne seca filling evenly over the first layer of purée.
- Carefully cover the beef filling with the remaining cassava purée, smoothing the top.
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese generously over the surface to ensure a golden finish.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for approximately 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and formed a crisp, golden crust.
- Serve immediately while hot, adding fresh herbs as a garnish if desired.
Observations
The Escondidinho de carne seca is a staple of Brazilian comfort food, cherished for its harmonious contrast of a smooth, buttery root vegetable purée and intensely flavoured, tender shredded beef. It is an ideal centrepiece for a family lunch or a refined dinner party.
The beauty of this dish lies in its layered structure; once oven-baked, the flavours meld into a rich, cohesive meal. Its humble ingredients, when prepared with care, elevate it into a sophisticated, rustic bake that is both filling and deeply satisfying.
The beauty of this dish lies in its layered structure; once oven-baked, the flavours meld into a rich, cohesive meal. Its humble ingredients, when prepared with care, elevate it into a sophisticated, rustic bake that is both filling and deeply satisfying.
Ratings and comments