Farofa (Toasted Cassava Flour with Bacon and Egg)
In short: Toasted cassava flour cooked with crisp bacon, onion and scrambled egg into a dry, savory, sandy topping for rice, beans and grilled meat. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 265 kcal
Farofa is the crunchy, savory topping that Brazilians sprinkle over rice, beans and grilled meat. Toasted cassava flour is cooked in bacon fat with onion, garlic and egg until it looks like golden, loose sand. It soaks up the juices from feijoada and barbecue and adds a salty crunch. It is served beside the main dish, never on its own.
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until crisp and the fat has melted. Lift it out with a slotted spoon and leave the fat in the pan.
- Add the butter and onion to the fat and cook for 5 minutes until soft and golden. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds.
- Push the onion to one side and crack the eggs into the pan. Scramble until fully set, about 2 minutes, then stir them into the onion.
- Lower the heat. Sprinkle in the cassava flour a handful at a time, stirring after each addition so it absorbs the fat.
- Toast, stirring constantly, for 4 to 5 minutes, until the farofa smells nutty and looks golden, loose and sandy.
- Stir in the bacon, parsley and salt, tasting first because the bacon is salty. Serve warm.
Tips
- Buy toasted cassava flour (farinha torrada). If you only find raw cassava flour, toast it in a dry skillet for 8 to 10 minutes first. Tapioca starch is not a substitute, because it clumps.
- For a vegetarian version, skip the bacon, cook the onion in 3 tbsp olive oil and fold in fried banana slices or sautéed collard greens.
Questions and answers
What is farofa and how do you eat it?
Farofa is cassava flour toasted in fat with seasonings. You sprinkle it over rice, beans, stews and grilled meat for a dry, crunchy contrast.
Can I use cornmeal or breadcrumbs instead of cassava flour?
Toasted coarse cornmeal or dry breadcrumbs can stand in, but the texture will not be the same sandy crunch. Cassava flour is worth finding.
How long does farofa keep?
Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It softens as it sits, so re-toast it in a dry skillet before serving.
How long does it take to make Farofa (Toasted Cassava Flour with Bacon and Egg)?
About 30 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Farofa (Toasted Cassava Flour with Bacon and Egg)?
About 265 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 30 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 265 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
