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Vatapá

Name: Vatapá
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: Brazil
Ingredients: 150g Shrimp; 2 slices Bread; 200ml Coconut milk; 30g Peanuts; 1/2 Onion; 1 clove Garlic; 1 tsp Paprika powder; 2 tbsp Olive oil

Main Dish

⏱ 45 min

👥 Serves 2

Difficulty ⭐⭐

Shrimp, bread, and nuts ground together into a rich paste — a lavish Bahian dish.

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📖 The Story Behind This Dish

A representative dish of Bahia, born when West African cuisine crossed the ocean to Brazil and developed its own distinct form. Bread, dried shrimp, peanuts or cashews, and coconut milk are ground together into a thick, creamy paste. It also has historical roots as an offering in Candomblé religious ceremonies, making it an essential part of understanding Bahian food culture. Traditionally served ladled over rice.

🌆 Where it's eaten: At a street stall in Salvador, thick vatapá is ladled from a large pot over a steaming bowl of rice — a moment of pure comfort.

🥕 Ingredients (serves 2)

Shrimp 150g
Bread 2 slices
Coconut milk 200ml
Peanuts 30g
Onion 1/2
Garlic 1 clove
Paprika powder 1 tsp
Olive oil 2 tbsp

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Soak the bread in a small amount of milk (not included in the main quantities) to soften.
Peel the shrimp; mince the onion and garlic.
Heat olive oil in a pot and sauté the onion and garlic, then add the shrimp and cook until it changes color.
Add the softened bread, peanuts, and coconut milk.
Mash well with a blender or fork, simmering over low heat for about 15 minutes until thickened.
Season with paprika and salt, and serve over rice.

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