What Is Roucou?
Roucou is our local term for Annatto extract. Annatto is the seed of the fruit from the Achiote tree also known as Bixa Orellana. This was the name given to the tree by the Spanish. However in Tupi or Tupian language the seeds are known as Uruku. So essentially, the name roucou is a derivitive of the original name for the seed/plant. And it is the name we use to refer to it by to this day.
Usage
Annatto was used by the indigenous peoples on the island both as a dye, body paint, lipstick as well as a spice in food. Today it is still widely used in cuisines throughout Latin America as well as in Vietnam and The Philippines. The extract is also used as a natural food coloring in many products like cheese, butter, margarine and ice cream.
In Trinidad & Tobago the most mainstream use is in the making of Pastelles around Christmas time and this is a direct influence from Venezuelan cuisine. However in communities like Lopinot, Paramin and parts of Arima roucou is still a main ingredient in everyday cooking.
How to make Roucou
Roucou has a slight sweet, peppery and earthy taste and it adds a rich depth of flavor to any soup or stew. These fruits were purchased in central market, Port Of Spain. The vendor was kind enough to share a few pointers on how to make the extract. The fruit is quite easy to open, just use your hands and squeeze to crack the outer shell. But you have to be very careful when working with it. The juices from the seeds will stain your fingers and literally anything you touch.
Just remove the seeds from the pod and you’re good to go. This however, is a somewhat painstaking process. So know that at approximately $20 for a small bottle and $40 for a big bottle of roucou, it is worth every dollar.
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp annatto seeds
- 4 cups water
- 4 bay leaves
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil
- Add bay leaves and annatto
- Add a pinch of salt
- Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature
- Transfer to a blender then pulse a few times
- Strain and store in a sterilized bottle or jar.
Video
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