Carreteiro of beef jerky: typical food of the gauchos, the cowboys of southern Brazil

The Carreteiro, made of jerked beef and rice, is one of the most typical and appreciated foods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Its origin dates back to the last decades of the 1800s, when drovers made long trade trips. They were the first gauchos, the denomination of men who work with cattle and in the countryside, and which is now how the people of the region are known.
It was necessary to have a diet that was easy to make and very nutritious, since the trips were exhausting, on the back of horses, donkeys, and also in ox carts.
And then comes the jerked beef, salted meat cured in the sun and rice. The mixture, topped off with an onion, was easy to make. Just put a little lard in the iron pan, throw the ingredients and wait a few minutes.
Over time, the recipe became more sophisticated and now, in addition to the traditional, there are carts that include other ingredients. But something has not changed: beef jerky and rice remain essential.
The "carreteiro" of the video was made by the chef of the Gringo steakhouse, which works during the event Acampamento Farroupilha, which takes place in September, in Porto Alegre, capital of the state.