Amazon on the plate

Urucu/Urucum
colorau/achiote
Origin
The urucuzeiro, bixa orellana, is a
shrub native to the forests of Tropical
America. Its seeds, hidden in soft
capsules defended with soft thorns
are used to add a yummy coloration
to pale food. The seeds release a
cheerful red dye, called achiote or
“colorau”, which gives many
<strong>Amazon</strong>ian plates an appetizing aspect.
The indigenous population of the
<strong>Amazon</strong> mixes the seeds with oils and
use the paste for their elaborated body
paintings, inventing by this way the
first sunblock, a property today proved.
Food industry uses urucu on a broader
scale as a dye coloring cheese,
sausages and butter.
Aroma
The seed itself have little aroma of
their own.
Use
The red dye that surrounds the seeds
is mixed with corn meal; Is taken
from the pestle or in the oil with the
objective to give pale meet or fish a
more appetizing look.
Classic
In savory dishes and crowning pale
chicken, fish and rice.
Exotic
Its bright red combines very well with
sugar, candy.
Unmissable
In fish soups turning its natural grayish
color in an appetizing orange.
J F M A M J J A S O N D
The <strong>Amazon</strong> on the plate
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