Tasajo

Tasajo is a cut of dried beef, normally cooked over a wood fire.

Tasajo in Spain

In Spain, specifically in Toledo, it consists of marinated deer loin that is smoked over a slow fire of holm oak wood, typical of hunting regions.^[1]

In the region of La Vera (in the province of Cáceres), and in the neighboring town of Candeleda (in Ávila province),^[1] it consists of marinated goat meat that has been macerated and dried. It is usually served as an appetizer in the bars of the area, and it is a good accompaniment with pitarra wine.

Tasajo in Mexico

Enchiladas with tasajo

Tlayuda con falda, a tlayuda folded in half and topped with grilled skirt steak

In Mexican cuisine, tasajo is a cut of beef, typically from the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. It is similar to pork jerky and is often made with organ meat including that of the head and back, but also can be made with flank^[2] or skirt steak.

In the historic quarter of the city of Oaxaca, it is customary to eat tasajo with tlayudas and radishes, as well as with "chiles de agua" and onions. It can also be accompanied with chapulines, quesillo and any other Oaxacan dish.

Tasajo in Panama

In Panama (see Panamanian cuisine), tasajo is a cut of wood smoked beef which is later roasted or fried. It is consumed accompanied by fried food at breakfast or with rice and side dishes at lunch. It is popular in all of the provinces.^[3]

Tasajo in Cuba

In Cuba (see Cuban cuisine), jerked beef is most often made from the meat of horses, donkeys, mules, or deer^[4] but is prepared similarly to how beef tasajo is prepared. Traditionally until the 1930s, tasajo in Cuba was most often made from horse meat, however, beef tasajo has been a more popular version since then.^[5][6][7]

Tasajo in other countries

Ch'arki

In the Andean countries, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, tasajo goes by the name of "Charqui" or "Ch'arki" and consists of dehydrated beef, salted and smoked. Its texture resembles cardboard and was a part of the diet that was provided to enslaved people of African origin until the end of the 19th century in the Antilles and Brazil. The dish is normally prepared by first washing and then rehydrating the dried meat by boiling.

In Venezuela pieces of salted meat are called tasajo or sala.^[8]

See also

• Jerky
• Biltong

References

1. [Díaz Sánchez, Lorenzo (2005). Alianza Editorial, ed. La cocina del Quijote (cuarta edición). Madrid. p. 85. ISBN 84-206-2042-4.]
2. Patijinich.com "Tasajo"
3. Cameron, S.; Box, B. (1999). Mexico & Central America Handbook. Footprint Central America Handbook (in Italian). Footprint Handbooks. p. 1168. ISBN 978-0-8442-4838-7. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
4. blog.vacuba.com "Tasajo Cubano"
5. Icuban.com Tasajo
6. CubaCuban.com "Tasajo"
7. Cibercuba.com "Aporreado de Tasajo"
8. [Fogones y Cocinas tradicionales de Venezuela. Caracas: Ediciones Cavendes. 1993.]