Curanto: A Delicious and Ancient Way of Cooking
A DELICIOUS AND ANCIENT WAY OF COOKING
Today I want to share with you one of my favorite dishes, Curanto. Curanto is not only a dish, but also a way of cooking that involves hot stones, a hole in the ground, and lots of ingredients. It is a very old technique that dates back to more than 11,000 years ago, and it is still practiced today in some parts of Chile and Argentina.
Curanto is a feast that brings people together, as it requires a lot of preparation and teamwork. It is also a very versatile dish, as you can use different kinds of meats, seafood, vegetables, and doughs. The result is a tender and flavorful meal that will satisfy your appetite and your senses.
How to Make Curanto
To make Curanto, you need to dig a hole in the ground, about half a meter deep. Then you need to fill it with stones that you heat up in a fire until they are red hot. You also need to gather some large leaves, such as Nalca or Maqui (you can replace with some other plant that has leaves suitable for eating), to cover the hole.
Once the stones are hot enough, you remove the fire and start placing the ingredients on top of them. The traditional ingredients are seafood, such as mussels, clams, oysters, and crabs; potatoes; and doughs made with potatoes or wheat flour, such as Milcao ( Melcao, also called Milcao, is a kind of potato bread that is prepared by mixing raw and cooked potatoes with other ingredients) and Chapalele (Chapalel is a dough made from boiled potatoes and wheat flour.) . You can also add meats, such as chicken, pork, lamb, or sausage; and vegetables, such as cabbage, carrots, or corn.
After you have arranged all the ingredients on the stones, you cover them with more leaves and then with a wet cloth. Finally, you seal the hole with soil, creating a natural pressure cooker that will steam and smoke the food for about two hours.
When the Curanto is ready, you will see some smoke and steam coming out of the ground. That is the signal to uncover the hole and enjoy the delicious food. You can serve the Curanto with bread, salad, wine, or chicha (a fermented drink made from grapes or apples).
The Benefits of Curanto
Curanto is not only tasty, but also healthy and sustainable. It is a way of cooking that uses natural resources and does not produce waste or pollution. It is also a way of preserving and celebrating the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of Chiloé (Chile) and Patagonia (Chile and Argentina).
Curanto is also a social event that fosters community and friendship. It is a dish that invites people to share and enjoy together. It is a symbol of hospitality and generosity.
If you ever have the chance to visit Chile or Argentina, I highly recommend you to try Curanto. It is an experience that you will never forget. And if you want to make it at home, you can also use a large pot instead of a hole in the ground. The flavor will not be exactly the same, but it will be close enough.
I hope you liked this article about Curanto. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. And don't forget to subscribe to my blog for more tips and recipes from an expert chef.
