The roasted guinea pig is a plate of food that can be strange in other cultures such as European. It is a traditional and popular elaboration in some countries of South America like Ecuador. In this article, we tell you about its history and explain how to elaborate it.
Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.
Contents
History
The guinea pig, also known as guinea pig, guinea pig or guinea pig, is a rodent of approximately 30 cm whose origin is in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. For more than 2,000 years, the inhabitants of this area feed on this animal.
Therefore, today, in Ecuador, especially in the Andean or Sierra Region, it is typical to cook and consume guinea pig during the holidays, for example at Christmas. That is why in rural areas they are raised in private homes or on farms. One of the provinces where it is most prepared is Imbabura.
This animal is a complete food whose properties are quite beneficial, since it has a high protein index and is low in fat. Therefore, the natives of this area have continued the tradition of this food dish.
Today, it is possible to find guinea pig roasted in numerous restaurants in the country. Even, for several years, the International Cuy Festival is organized. Some of the specialized establishments are the following:
- La Casa del Cuy, Huaca (Carchi)
- La Ambateñita, Cotocollao (Quito)
- Mama Clorinda, La Mariscal (Quito)
- Guajibamba, Cuenca
- La Casita del Cuy, Sangolquí
Ingredients
The ingredients and the way of elaboration can vary in each zone. In general, to prepare the dressing, the following foods are used:
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1/2 red or green onion
- 2 long onions or scallions
- 1/2 pepper
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 tablespoons salt
Also, to cook the sauce accompanying the roasted guinea pig, we need these ingredients:
- Guinea pig viscera
- Milk
- 2 white onions
- 4 ounces (100 g) roasted peanuts or cocoa
- 1 tablespoon achiote (spice)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Preparation
First, you have to peel the guinea pig and remove the viscera. The seasoning ingredients are liquefied and the guinea pig is seasoned. After this, it should be allowed to stand for about 12 hours. Then, the guinea pig is cooked on the grill or baked for about an hour and a half.
On the other hand, you have to prepare the sauce. To do this, the following steps are followed:
- Wash and cut guinea pig visors
- Make a refrito with onion, achiote, salt and cumin
- Blend the milk with the peanut and add to the refrito
- Boil, add the viscera and cook for ten minutes
In addition to the sauce, the guinea pig is accompanied with cooked potatoes or potatoes, avocado, lettuce and tomato, and is served with the sauce previously prepared.
Other variants
Although roasted guinea pig with potatoes is the most widespread version of this dish in Ecuador, there are multiple variants. For example, some people prepare it spicy to give it a special flavor.
It can also be cooked in different ways, such as stew. As for the potatoes that accompany it, they can also be of different types.
In addition, in other countries it is prepared in several ways. One of the most prominent is that of guinea pig or fried, traditional from Peru, especially from the department of Moquegua.
This article has been shared 43 times.
Finally, we have selected the previous and next article of the block "Prepare the trip"so you can continue reading: