Tacho (meaning ''pot''
or ''pan''
), also known as Chau-Chau Pele,
is considered to be a
Macanese variant of
Cozido à Portuguesa
() or Portuguese stew is a type of ''cozido'', traditional Portuguese boiled meal. Numerous regional variations exist throughout Portugal, and the dish is considered part of the Portuguese heritage, as well as one of the national dishes of Portu ...
that is found in
Portuguese cuisine
The oldest known book on Portuguese cuisine, entitled ''Livro de Cozinha da Infanta D. Maria de Portugal'', from the 16th century, describes many popular dishes of meat, fish, poultry and others.
''Culinária Portuguesa'', by António-Maria De O ...
.
History
Tacho is considered to be a
winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Different cultur ...
dish, and can take up to three days to prepare.
It is often eaten during the holidays, and symbolizes familial unity.
At least one account states that Tacho began as a dish made with leftover ingredients from holiday feasts.
In the past, Tacho was seen as a dish consumed by wealthy people. It is considered to be a relatively rare dish, even in the present day.
Ingredients
Even though there are variations depending on recipes, Tacho is, in general, noted to have swapped the
Chouriços that is found in ''Cozido'' with
Chinese sausage
Chinese sausage is a generic term referring to the many different types of sausages originating in China. The southern flavor of Chinese sausage is commonly known by its Cantonese name (or ) ().
Varieties
There is a choice of fatty or lean s ...
,
and the
turnip
The turnip or white turnip ('' Brassica rapa'' subsp. ''rapa'') is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, fleshy taproot. The word ''turnip'' is a compound of ''turn'' as in turned/rounded on a lathe and ...
s found in ''Cozido'' with
Daikon
Daikon or mooli, ''Raphanus sativus'' var. ''longipinnatus,'' is a mild-flavored winter radish usually characterized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, root. Originally native to continental East Asia, daikon is harvested and consumed ...
.
Some Tachos include
Pork rind
Pork rind is the culinary term for the skin of a pig. It can be used in many different ways.
It can be rendered, fried in fat, baked, or roasted to produce a kind of pork cracklings (US) or scratchings (UK); these are served in small piece ...
,
Pig's trotters
A pig's trotter, also known as a pettitoe, or sometimes known as a pig's foot, is the culinary term for the foot of a pig. The cuts are used in various dishes around the world, and experienced a resurgence in the late 2000s.
Description
Pigs' ...
, and
Balichão
Balichão (Cantonese: , ''haam4 haa1 zoeng3'', "salt shrimp sauce") is an ingredient that is used in a number of dishes in Macanese cuisine. It is made with shrimp, aguardente, salt, pepper, bay leaves and malagueta chillies.
Characteristics
...
.
One recipe also calls for the use of
fish maw.
References
{{Macanese cuisine
Macanese cuisine