Farofa

Farofa is toasted cassava meal eaten mainly in Brazil, sold commercially or made at home from family recipes, with a texture that ranges from coarse, bulgur like grains to a fine powder. Most versions are toasted with oil or butter along with salt, smoked meat and spices such as bacon, sausage, onion and garlic until golden, giving the dish a smoky, slightly salty flavor used mainly to accompany meat, barbecue and stews; it commonly appears alongside feijoada and churrasco, and in Bahia is often colored and flavored with dende oil. Farofa can also serve as a stuffing for poultry when mixed with raisins, nuts and chopped fruit, and diners typically sprinkle it over a meal or eat it as a side, much as they would rice.