Cuy is a traditional dish – a delicacy – in Ecuador. And yes, cuy are guinea pigs .
Is cuy Ecuadorian or Peruvian?
Cuy is a traditional Peruvian dish . Cuy, also called cobayo or conejillo de indias, is a guinea pig and a traditional entrée in South American Andean culture.
Do people from Ecuador eat guinea pigs?
The rodents are a traditional hot dish in some Latin American countries, including Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. In Ecuador, people typically cook guinea pigs with salt and serve them with potatoes and peanut sauce . ... Some people like ice cream made from “cuy,” as the animal is locally known.
Why do people eat cuy in Ecuador?
Many people wonder why Ecuadorians eat guinea pig and it’s because guinea pigs were the main source of meat before cattle were introduced to the country. The number of cuy became a status symbol because it meant you had enough money to eat meat . It was never an everyday meal but a luxury.
Where did cuy come from?
In the Andes, where guinea pigs originated and are known as cuy, they are a popular meat for grilling, frying, and roasting. In the beginning, cuy were not pets at all. Guinea pigs were domesticated by indigenous people in the Andes for their meat, which is often compared to rabbit.
How much does cuy cost in Ecuador?
One portion of Cuy is good to share between two people and also comes served with potatoes, beans and corn. The average price of a guinea pig between two people in Ecuador is around $25 .
Is it illegal to eat guinea pig in the US?
Serving guinea pig is legal . Under federal law, it’s considered an exotic meat – also referred to as game or “non-amenable species” – and its sale is regulated by the FDA. Some restaurants in Los Angeles, California, another pocket of heavy South American immigration, are serving cuy as well.
Do they eat rats in Ecuador?
Guinea pig or Cuy as it is called in South America is a local delicacy that’s unique to the highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. ... Cuy are not only used for food. They warm the house, keep the rats away and are used for medicinal purposes.
What food is eaten in Ecuador?
- Cuy: Roast guinea pig.
- Locro: Soup of potatoes, corn, cheese and avocado.
- Empanadas: Corn pasties stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables.
- Llapingachos: Cheesy potato cakes.
- Seco de chivo: Goat stew usually served on special occasions.
- Ceviche: Raw seafood ‘cooked’ in lime and chilli.
What is Ecuador’s national dish?
Put prejudice aside and settle down to a serving of guinea pig a traditional dish to be tried during your trip to Ecuador.
Do they eat rats in Peru?
Elsewhere in the world, rat meat is considered diseased and unclean, socially unacceptable, or there are strong religious proscriptions against it. Islam and Kashrut traditions prohibit it, while both the Shipibo people of Peru and Sirionó people of Bolivia have cultural taboos against the eating of rats .
Why do they eat guinea pigs in Peru?
A traditional food, Guinea pig (called cuy in Peru) has been served whole on special occasions since Inca times. Guinea pigs are cute and cuddly and eating one is like eating your pet dog. ... They are not pigs either and don’t live in the wild, being purely bred for food by the people of the Andes.
Is Ecuador a small country?
Ecuador covers an area of 283,561 km2, compared, it is somewhat smaller than Italy (301,318 km2) or slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Ecuador has a population of 16.7 million people (2017).
What do they call guinea pigs in Ecuador?
Guinea pigs are called quwi or jaca in Quechua and cuy or cuyo (plural cuyes, cuyos) in the Spanish of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
How is cuy cooked?
There are different methods of cooking guinea pig Cuy meat, the main ones are Cuy al horno (sometimes also called Cuy al palo or Picante de cuy), and Cuy Chactado. Cuy al horno is baked or spit-roasted whilst Cuy chactado is fried in spices.
