Tacacá (Amazonian Tucupi and Shrimp Soup)
In short: A tangy yellow Amazonian soup of cooked tucupi, shrimp and jambu leaves over a cassava starch gel, served very hot with chili. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 145 kcal
Tacacá is the late-afternoon soup of Belém and the Amazon. Hot tucupi, a tangy yellow broth made from cassava, is poured over a soft gel of cassava starch and topped with shrimp and jambu, a leaf that leaves a pleasant tingle on the lips. It is traditionally sipped from a gourd bowl at street stands. Use only bottled tucupi that has already been cooked.
Instructions
- Bring the tucupi to a full boil in a pot with the garlic, chicória, chilies and salt. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Blanch the jambu leaves in boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and set aside.
- Make the goma: whisk the tapioca starch into the cold water in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low, stirring constantly, for 4 to 6 minutes, until it turns translucent and thickens to a loose gel. Keep warm.
- Add the shrimp (and the dried shrimp, if using) to the simmering tucupi and cook for 3 minutes, until pink and opaque.
- Divide the goma among 4 bowls, about 100 ml (1/3 cup) each. Top with jambu, then ladle over the hot tucupi and shrimp. Serve at once, with extra hot sauce on the side.
Tips
- Use only commercially bottled tucupi. Raw juice pressed from bitter cassava contains cyanide compounds and is made safe only by long boiling, so do not make it at home.
- Jambu is sold in Brazilian grocers, sometimes frozen. If you cannot find it, use watercress and a few crushed Sichuan peppercorns for a similar tingle.
Questions and answers
What does jambu taste like?
Jambu leaves taste mildly bitter and make lips and tongue tingle and feel slightly numb. This is the signature sensation of tacacá.
Where can I buy tucupi?
Brazilian and Latin grocery stores and online shops sell it bottled and already cooked. The soup does not work without it.
Is tacacá spicy?
The broth is sour and savory with only gentle heat. People usually add hot pepper sauce at the table to taste.
How long does it take to make Tacacá (Amazonian Tucupi and Shrimp Soup)?
About 55 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tacacá (Amazonian Tucupi and Shrimp Soup)?
About 145 kcal per serving, with 16 g of protein, 16 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 145 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
