Sopa paraguaya facts for kids
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| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Course | Breakfast or snack |
| Place of origin | Paraguay |
| Main ingredients | Finely ground corn flour, Paraguay cheese, egg, milk, onion. |
| Variations | Sopa so'o, sopa ryguasú |
Sopa paraguaya is a yummy traditional food from Paraguay. It's a bit like a savory corn bread or a fluffy cake. It's made with simple ingredients like corn flour, cheese, onion, and milk. This dish is packed with energy and protein!
Sopa paraguaya is similar to another popular Paraguayan dish called chipa guasu. The main difference is that chipa guasu uses fresh corn. Sopa paraguaya is more like a savory corn bread, while chipa guasu is softer, like a cheesy soufflé.
Contents
How Did Sopa Paraguaya Start?
The story of sopa paraguaya began a long time ago in Paraguay. It's a mix of two cultures: the native Cario-Guarani people and the Spanish settlers.
Ancient Roots: Mbujapé
Before the Spanish arrived, the Cario-Guarani people already made a type of bread. They called it "mbujapé," which means "bread" in their language, Guarani. They made it from corn flour or cassava starch. They would mix it with animal fat, wrap it in a banana leaf, and cook it in hot ashes.
A German traveler named Ulrich Schmidl wrote about these breads. He was part of an early Spanish trip to the area that is now Asunción. He saw the Cario-Guarani people making and eating these starchy breads.
A Delicious Mix of Cultures
When the Spanish came to Paraguay, they brought new foods. In 1556, they brought cattle to Asunción. This meant new ingredients like beef, milk, eggs, and cheese became available.
The Cario-Guarani people's traditional foods, like corn and cassava, mixed with these new Spanish ingredients. This blend created many of the unique dishes we see in Paraguayan cuisine today. Sopa paraguaya is a perfect example of this delicious cultural fusion.
What's in Sopa Paraguaya?
To make traditional sopa paraguaya, you need a few key ingredients:
- Onion
- Water
- Salt
- Pork fat (or cooking oil)
- Eggs
- Fresh cheese (like Paraguay cheese)
- Corn flour
- Milk or curd
- Milk cream
Some versions, like "sopa paraguaya de estancia," might change the amounts of these ingredients. This can make the dish more or less creamy or rich, depending on what people like.
How to Make Sopa Paraguaya
Making sopa paraguaya is a fun process! Here are the steps:
- First, thinly slice an onion. Boil it in salted water for about 10 minutes. Then, let it cool down.
- Next, beat the pork fat until it's fluffy. Add the eggs one by one, continuing to beat the mixture.
- Crumble the fresh cheese and add it to the mix.
- Pour in the cooled onions with their water. Slowly add the corn flour, switching with splashes of milk and cream.
- Mix everything until it's smooth and well combined.
- Pour the mixture into a baking dish that has been greased with butter or oil.
- Bake it in a hot oven (around 200 degrees Celsius or 390 degrees Fahrenheit) for about an hour.
Enjoy your delicious homemade sopa paraguaya!
Images for kids
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Sopa so'o, a type of sopa paraguaya with ground beef.
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Sopa ryguasu, a type of sopa paraguaya with chicken.
See also
In Spanish: Sopa paraguaya para niños
