Xerém (food)

Algarvian xarém

Xerém[1] or Xarém[2] is a Portuguese[3] typical dish and is also eaten in Brazil and Cape Verde, where it is considered traditional.[4] It is a mash made with corn flour combined with traditional ingredients from each region where it is prepared.[5]

Etymology

The words "xerém" and "xarém" have no known origin. There are two hypotheses for the etymological origin of the words.

  • "xerém" and "xarém", originates from an Arabic word meaning "grain potatoes"
  • "xerém" could be a Yoruba word xe'ree meaning rattle which is used in Orisha Shango of the land.[6]

Brazil

In Brazil, it is a traditional dish in the Northeast Region especially in Pernambuco. The dish contains dried corn kernels.

It is also popular in Minas Gerais but not with the name "xerém" but a "homimy", a name that given to both the broken corn which is the basic ingredient for the dish, corresponding to the kernel of São Paulo, regarding its cooking[7] Traditionally, the Mineira homimy is cooked with pork ribs, with further variations, less common with pork cuts with chicken, beef or sausage.

Cape Verde

In Cape Verde, xerém is considered a traditional dish, it contains corn wheat mixed with water, laural, butter and salt.[8] Also it can be prepared with fresh tuna, cocoa milk, onions and gindungo.

There are different types with the most specific meanings, for example xerém de festa which is prepared with fat, pork meat and onions.,[9] in other cases, with beans, laurel, pimental and tomatoes.[10]

Also, it can be used for wedding parties.[11]

On the island of Brava, during the month of June, a drum festival is celebrated where the xérem dish is eaten, it doubledly means for including the preparation of the dish, where the music drums are played with people dancing to the coladeiras.[12]

Portugal

In Portugal, xarém (or xerém) is a traditional dish in the Algarve region in the south and is common in the city of Olhão. In that city, the dish has clams, bacon and ham.[3]

Its ingredients include greaves, pork and grilled sardines.[3]

The dish xarém with shells were one of seventy candidate[13] s of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Cooking but lost in September 2011.

Quotations about xerém

  • "Ô piza o milho penerô xerém/ eu não vou criar galinha/ pra dar pinto pra ninguém". (Luiz Gonzaga)
  • "O arroz fica c'os branco/ pobre só come xerém". (Lopes Bogéa)
  • "O xerém era feito do milho quebrado num moinho - uma pedra redonda, puxado por um torno, girando sobre a outra". (Ulisses Lins de Albuquerque)
  • "Um olhanense passava/ Muito bem para onde fosse/ Com um prato de xarém/ E uma batatinha doce". (Popular olhanense quote)[3]

References

  1. ↑ S.A., Priberam Informática,. "Significado / definição de xerém no Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa". www.priberam.pt.
  2. ↑ S.A., Priberam Informática,. "Significado / definição de xarém no Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa". www.priberam.pt.
  3. 1 2 3 4
  4. ↑ Alves, Jose. "Xerém Tradicional - Cabo Verde - Sabores da Lusofonia - Roteiro Gastronómico de Portugal". www.gastronomias.com.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ Cunha, A. G. Dicionário etimológico Nova Fronteira da língua portuguesa (Etymological Dictionary of the New Frontiers of the Portuguese Language). Rio de Janeiro. Nova Fronteira. p. 832.
  7. ↑ "Homimy with cooked pork". February 16, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
  10. ↑
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ SAPO. "SAPO". SAPO.
  13. ↑ "70 pre-finalistas" (in Portuguese). Maravilhas da Gastronomia. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
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