the classic recipe
Bobó de camarão (Brazilian shrimp and cassava stew)
Bobó de camarão is the Bahian tropical purée — a golden-orange base of creamy cassava with coconut milk and dendê palm oil, pink shrimp visible on top. The signature is the triad of dendê, cilantro, and shrimp. Served with white rice to soak up the cream, and optional dendê farofa. Dendê is the soul of the dish — without it, it is just cassava cream with shrimp.
yields 6 servings·579 kcal per serving·cuisine Brazilian
The traditional recipe
Instructions
Peel and cut 1 kg of cassava into medium chunks. Cook in a pressure cooker with enough water to cover for 15–20 minutes after reaching pressure, until very tender. Reserve the cooking liquid.
Season 600 g of cleaned shrimp with lime juice, salt, and black pepper. Let marinate for 10 minutes while you prepare the vegetables.
In a blender, process the cooked cassava (without water) with 200 ml of coconut milk and a pinch of salt until a smooth, thick purée forms. If too dense, add a little of the reserved cooking liquid. Set aside.
In a large heavy-bottomed pan (or clay pot), heat half the dendê oil (25 ml) over medium heat. Sauté the onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and diced bell peppers and cook for 3 more minutes. Add the tomato and finger chili and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add the seasoned shrimp to the pan and stir constantly for 2–3 minutes, just until pink and opaque. Do not overcook. Set the shrimp aside separately if you prefer not to cook them further.
Lower the heat. Add the cassava purée to the pan with the vegetables, stirring to combine. Gradually pour in 200 ml of vegetable broth and the remaining coconut milk (200 ml), stirring until the cream is smooth and lightly thickened.
Return the shrimp to the cream (if reserved). Adjust salt. Finish with the remaining dendê oil (25 ml), scallions, and half the chopped cilantro, folding gently.
Serve immediately in deep plates or bowls, topped with the remaining cilantro. Accompanies white rice and, optionally, dendê farofa.