Churrasco in Spain, Portugal and South America generally refers to meat that has been grilled over an open flame. Often it has also been marinated in something, in Andalucía it’s typically a spice mix used to make Pinchitos Morunos (Moorish Kebabs) little skewers of meat, usually pork. They’re typical fiesta food and very popular.
At home meat can be rubbed in the spice mix (which is bought ready made) which is made up into a paste with olive oil. Generally about 3 teaspoons of mix to every kilo of meat. The meat is then cooked on a hot griddle pan or over a barbecue. We’re just back in England, so I’ve made sure to bring a supply of spice mix with me to remind me of this dish.
If you can’t get hold of the spice mix (which is almost like a mild curry powder), you can make your own. The meat I used was a 2 boned thighs and drumsticks and it was cooked on the bbq – delicious!
Ingredients
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp garlic granules
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground fenugreek
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried yellow mustard
pinch of ground Spanish saffron
Turn your favourite Latino music up to top volume, serve with an ice cold beer and enjoy!
Chica Andaluza 
Delicious! I love those spice stalls in the market selling mixtures for all types of meat and fish. I’ve mixed up something similar myself, in the past, for pinchos murunos. It makes me laugh that they like to use a Moorish mixture on pork 😉
It’s ironic isn’t it – if you go to Ceuta or Melilla, apparently all the pinchos are made of lamb!
Ha ha – I bet!
…though the Portuguese Inquisition in Goa converted everyone to pork. Pork curry and couriço (chorizo) are poplar to this day.
Ooh yum!
Chica, this looks amazing and flavorful. I am sooooo making this. Wow.
I think it will be something you’d enjoy – and once you have the mix you can use it on so many things!
Bit cold here at the moment for a cold beer Ms Chica, but otherwise, this recipe has been duly noted and filed away for the heat of summer when Brunhilda has been asleep for a month and Stevie-boy is manning the bbq like a boss 🙂
Probably best to stick with a nice cup of tea to keep you warm!
😉
Oh that’s so sad you’ve left the hot summer! Hope you’ll be back soon! I like to rub chicken in a spice mix and roast it. Sooo easy and tasty.
Yes, but we are lucky to have two beautiful homes and two wonderful families – one in each country!
Oh yes you’re very lucky! You can see how much I love living in Spain haha! I would miss it if I were in England I think………
That looks so tasty, Tanya. Happy weekend to you 🙂
And to you Jo – looking forward to your weekend post!
Oh goodness….I want to fire up the barbecue now!
They all laughed at us in Spain as we had to put up the beach umbrella to shade us from the sun and we explained that in England it’s also an essential piece of barbecue equipment so that we can carry on cooking when it rains 😉
Reblogged this on Foodfhonebook and commented:
I love this
Foodfhonebook
YUM! We are listening to the Tango in the house lately – Fede’s favourite music – this spice looks delicious.. c
Well Celi – I do hope Federico is not just listening but teaching it to you at the same time: would be great if he can do the proper Argentine tango as well as the ordinary one 😀 !! What fun!!!!!!
Big Man’s grandfather was born in Argentina so he loves to Tango too!
I can imagine he knows about some pretty amazing Tango!
What a great recipe and I shall make my own spice mix, thank you! As oregano, yellow mustard, cinnamon and saffron are not really curry spices I just have to prepare this soonest to try 🙂 ! And I do not need summer or an outdoor barbecue: a grill pan inside will do just fine!!
It works really well with a grill pan too!
Like! Like! Like very much!!!
Thank you!
That’s a good spice mix….there’s a little South American restaurant in Southwark, London, called El Vergel. When I had a studio there we had lunch brought in from there and it was very often Churasco Palta:)
Ooh – that sounds like a good lunch to me!
Great rub. I’ll have to make up a batch.
Hope you enjoy it if you do!
Wonderful spices – all of which I have in the cupboard. Lovely idea – we will definitely be having a braai when Pete gets home.
Have a beautiful weekend Tanya.
🙂 Mandy xo
Enjoy Mandy!
This looks like the sort of thing that I’d like to cook over the fire pit that I’m hankering after! Delicious!
Ooh, I’d love one too (but first…I want a wood burning oven!)
Love, love, love this kind of food Tanya! Spicy, succulent chicken thighs cooked on the bbq – so yummy! 🙂 Bookmarking this sometime very soon!
Simple but delicious!
Hemmm… Taste nice…
J
Delicious once,in our country Indonesia foods made from meat which is famous SATE ,how in your country of flesh foods ?
Sounds like party food 🙂
Every day is a fiesta in Spain!
Tasty meat + icy beer + happy 🙂
A good combination! Hope you are all well…
We’re doing well adjusting to the cold of NZ winter, brrr. Just had a first birthday party too! Hope you guys are doing great 🙂
Ah that’s lovely – she’s 1 already! All good here thanks 🙂
I think your spice mix sounds better than the pinchito mix they sell in Spain (although I love the little colourful box it comes in)! I look forward to trying it at our next barbecue, which has got to be soon, the weather is sooo lovely…(but not as hot as southern Spain of course)
I love the containers too – and the pimenton ones in tins are usually gorgeous! We had very odd weather during our month in Spain – it went from 40 degrees down to about 18, then we had clouds, rain, sun and wind…honestly it was as changeable as England!
Just love the flavors you used for this chicken! I’m printing this!!!
Enjoy!
This sounds like a fabulous spice rub. Am going to have to mix up a batch for summer grilling!
It’s a very useful one to have to hand!
Mrs Chica has a recipe very much , learn where Mrs. ?
Mostly I learn from friends and family!
It’s so tasty. Love the flavors u used for this chicken hehehe
Are you a wife? If you’re a wife, your husband will really happy to have you cause you can cook him some delicious foods. I feel like wanna be ur daughter lol
The grilled meat do not use condiment ? I look delicious . I ‘ll want to try to make it.
Yes, there is a spice mix rubbed in.
every recipe you share impressed me, thank you very much Chica
This looks amazing and flavorful.
hmm yummyyy 😀
i will to try cooking with husband ❤
Looks like delicious.. i will try cook this recipe at home soon, thanks chica…
taste good.. hmm yummmy