Causa limeña facts for kids
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| Course | Entrée |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Peru |
| Region or state | Coast |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Potato, chilli pepper, lemon, Mayonnaise, avocado, chicken or tuna, varied vegetables. |
Causa limeña, or simply causa, is a popular and tasty dish from Peru. It's a type of appetizer that has been around since before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. This cold dish is a big part of Peruvian food and is loved by many.
History of Causa
Causa is like a mini casserole. It has layers of soft yellow potato on the top and bottom. The middle is usually filled with white meat. Long ago in ancient Peru, people made causa with yellow potatoes. These potatoes have a soft texture. They would mix the potatoes with crushed chilli peppers. You can still make it with other types of potatoes too.
During the time of the Viceroyalty, from the 1500s to the 1800s, lemon was added to the dish. Lemons originally came from Asia. This addition helped causa become the modern dish we know today. A Peruvian chef named Nilo Do Carmo said that causa limeña is a valuable appetizer. He also said it shows pure Peruvian pride even now.
What Does "Causa" Mean?
There are a few ideas about where the name "causa" comes from. One idea is that it comes from the Quechua word Kawsay. This word means "necessary food" or "what feeds you." It was also a name for the potato itself.
Other ideas link the name to important wars in Peru's history. Some stories say that during the colonial period, the Spanish called it "kausay." The Peruvian historian Rodolfo Tafur says "kausay" means "life" or "giver of life" in Quechua.
Even though this dish has been around in Lima since the Viceroyalty, it didn't always have a specific name. When the liberator José de San Martín arrived, he needed money for his military campaign. So, this dish was sold on the streets of Lima. People bought it to help "the cause" (por la causa in Spanish).
Another idea is that causa limeña became a patriotic dish during the Pacific War between Peru and Chile. At that time, women would help the soldiers by giving them this cold dish.
In Lima, this dish is called causa. But in the northern city of Trujillo, the word "causa" can mean any spicy meal. However, causa limeña is also made in Trujillo and is just as good as the one made in the capital.
What's in Causa?
This dish is usually made with yellow potato, lemon, boiled egg, yellow chilli pepper, and black olives. It might also have avocado inside and lettuce for decoration.
You can find many different versions of causa. Some are filled with tuna, trout, chicken, shellfish, or other white meats. Sometimes, you might even find it made with spider crab or octopus. It's often served with a light layer of mayonnaise on top.
Instead of yellow potatoes, the dough for causa can also be made with lima beans or yellow yuca.
See also
In Spanish: Causa a la limeña para niños
