This Soup from Mexico Has Stones Within
A special delicacy from Mexico, the Rock Soup actually has rocks steam to give it is a distinct flavour. It has an ancient story to it.
If we ever find some small stones in our food meals by mistake we raise it as a big issue, but in remote parts of Mexico, there’s a soup which has river rocks in it! Called the Rock Soup, it is an ancient dish that originated in the pre-Hispanic time. It originated in San Felipe Usila, a small town in South Oaxaca. It is a fish soup which is steamed using a red-hot stone from a fire. It immediately boils cooking the ingredients in just 2 minutes.
The soup is usually prepared by the riverside. So the first process involves collecting select stones from the river. They also collect wood from the nearby forests to light up a fire for cooking. They then catch fish from the river, scale them for further preparations. It may sound like living in the stone-age era but that is the specialty of this soup which is enjoyed fresh as it is made. The Chinantec (a local language from Mexico) men prepared this dish for the first time.
Historically speaking, the dish was kept a secret from the Spaniards during the conquest. It was specially prepared and a mark of huge respect also to offer it to someone. It is also said that men offered this soup to women as a delicacy. Making use of nature’s available resources, the men cooked this soup. It needs to be cooked at a very defined temperature so that the fish gets cooked quickly. Plus, it is an excellent source of nutrition too.
The recipe of this soup is somehow a closely guarded secret among the Chinantec community people. But if one has to try this soup then the Gachupin family maintains this tradition in a hotel called Caldo de Piedra. The basic ingredients of the soup are red onion or shallots, garlic, jalapeño peppers, Creole epazote, cilantro, tomatoes, pieces of fish and prawns or large shrimp along with salt and water accordingly. But the real magic is in putting the hot stone from fire in the bowl to cook it to perfection.
We always were fascinated by stone age man right, and here we have someone continuing their way of living, preserving it. So one must visit this place and experience the ancient living or rather the food culture, enjoy the stones in your soup!!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 09, 2018 06:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).