churrasco

''Churrasco'' (, ) is the Portuguese and Spanish name for beef or grilled meat more generally. It is a prominent feature in the cuisine of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The related term ''churrascaria'' (or ''churrasquería'') is mostly understood to be a steakhouse restaurant serving grilled meat, many offering as much as one can eat: servers move around the restaurant with skewers, slicing meat onto the customer's plate. This serving style is called ''espeto corrido'' or '' rodízio'', and is quite popular in Brazil, especially in southern states like Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo.

''Churrasco'' by country

In Brazil, ''churrasco'' is the term for a barbecue (similar to the Argentine and Uruguayan ''asado'') which originated in southern Brazil. It uses a variety of meats, pork, sausage and chicken which may be cooked on a purpose-built '' churrasqueira'', a barbecue grill, often with supports for spits or skewers. Portable ''churrasqueiras'' are similar to those used to prepare the Argentine and Uruguayan ''asado'', with a grill support, but many Brazilian ''churrasqueiras'' do not have grills, only the skewers above the embers. The meat may alternatively be cooked on large metal or wood skewers resting on a support or stuck into the ground and roasted with the embers of charcoal (wood may also be used, especially in the state of Rio Grande do Sul).

In Nicaragua, the first immigrant group to introduce the term for this cut of beef to the United States restaurant scene in Miami, Florida as early as the 1950s, it refers to a skirt steak prepared grilled and served with a traditional ''chimichurri'' sauce made with macerated parsley, garlic, peppers, and olive oil sauce.

In Argentina and Uruguay a ''churrasco'' refers to any boneless cut of beef that is sliced slightly thin as a steak and grilled over hot coals or on a very hot skillet.

In the Dominican Republic and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico it always refers to skirt steak, cooked on a barbecue grill. The ''chimichurri'' sauce is optional, since the meat is very savory with just a slight hint of sea salt that is sprinkled over the meat during cooking. In Puerto Rico, it is also customary to replace ''chimichurri'' sauce with a guava rum sauce made with spices and 7up or '' Ajilimójili'' sauce.

In Ecuador ''churrasco'' is a staple food of the Coast Region, especially Guayaquil. The dish's main ingredient is the grilled steak that is seasoned with ''chimichurri'', it is served with plantains, white rice, French fries, a fried egg, and slices of avocado.

In Guatemala, ''churrasco'' is regarded as a typical dish, often eaten in familiar gatherings and festive occasions. It is usually served topped with ''chirmol'', a red sauce containing chopped tomatoes and onions, and accompanied by corn, guacamole, grilled potatoes, stewed black beans, rice, and tortillas.

In Chile, ''churrasco'' refers to a thin cut of steak which varies depending on the desired quality of the sandwich. The slices are grilled and served in a -sometimes warmed- local bun (called '' marraqueta'', or ''pan batido'' in Valparaíso), usually accompanied with tomato, avocado, and mayonnaise, in the case of a ''churrasco italiano''. Another popular dish, ''churrasco a lo pobre'' ("poor man's churrasco"), consists of a ''churrasco'' served with French fries, fried egg, and caramelized onions.

In Portugal, ''frango de churrasco'' with ''piri piri'' (a kind of salty roasted chicken cooked on the '' churrasqueira'', spiced with hot red chili sauce, garlic, and paprika) is very popular. Portuguese ''churrasco'' and chicken dishes are very popular in countries with Portuguese communities, such as Canada, Australia, the United States, Venezuela and South Africa. The term ''churrasco'' is also used in former Portuguese colonies; a ''churrasco moçambicano'' is a grilled meat dish from Mozambique, for instance.

In Galicia, ''churrasco'' refers almost exclusively to grilled pork or beef spare ribs. Galicians who emigrated to America in the 20th century took with them the recipe for ''churrasco''. Nowadays, many Galicians of all social classes prepare a ''churrascada''.

In the mainland United States, ''churrasco''-style restaurants have grown in popularity since the 1990s, fueled by the success of various chains, including Rodizio Grill, Texas de Brazil, Fogo de Chão, and Tucanos, as well as stand-alone Brazilian barbecue restaurants.

In the mainland United States, "Churrasco" is a registered trademark for rotisserie/grills manufactured by Hickory Industries, Inc. of Fort Lee, New Jersey.

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See also

* Shashlik
* Gyros (food)

References

External links

*

{{Barbecue

Argentine cuisine
Grilled skewers
Brazilian cuisine
Chilean sandwiches
Nicaraguan cuisine
Portuguese cuisine
Uruguayan cuisine
Paraguayan cuisine
Puerto Rican cuisine
Bolivian cuisine
Ecuadorian cuisine
Guatemalan cuisine
Galician cuisine
Beef steak dishes