Paçoca (pronounced [paˈsɔka], "pa-SOH-ca") is the name of two different Brazilian dishes:
In northeastern Brazil, especially in Fortaleza, Ceará, and in Rio Grande do Norte, it's a dish made of carne de sol (sun-dried beef), cassava flour and red onions, ground together in a mortar (pilão), which is why it is also known as paçoca de pilão in the rest of Brazil.
In other regions of Brazil, paçoca is a kind of candy made of ground peanuts and sugar. It began as a home-made candy, but today it is manufactured commercially and can be found in supermarkets and shops.
The name "paçoca" comes from the Tupi word "posok" (pronounced /pɔsɔk/) which means "to crumble" or "to shatter".