Guinea Pig Recipes

    

 

  

Guinea pigs are popular food in Peru, we are told.

Now we don't want the British Cavy Council to be up in arms - but in the interests of culinary experiment we publish here two recipes from the Sunday Telegraph and several others we chanced upon... You never know when you might need them.....

"Picante de cuy" - Guinea Pig with spices

The whole guinea pig is marinated overnight in spices, including cumin, black pepper, paprika and dried red chillies.

Red and yellow peppers are also liquidised and added to the marinade just before cooking.

After marinating, the meat is barbecued and served whole, but split in two like a fillet.

"Cuyes en salsa de mani" - Guinea pigs with peanut sauce

The guinea pig is seasoned whole with salt and pepper and then slowly deep fried in vegetable oil.

It is then served with a creamy peanut sauce and traditionally accompanied by white rice, fried yuccas and boiled sweet potatoes.

Fried Guinea Pig (Ayacucho-style)
CUY CHAQTADO

1 guinea pig, de-haired, gutted, and cleaned
1/2 c. flour
1/4 - 1/2 t. ground cumin
salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 c. oil
Pat dry the skin of the guinea pig and rub in the cumin, salt, and pepper. Preheat oil. Dust the carcass with the flour and place it on its back in the oil, turning to cook both sides. Alternately, the guinea pig can be cut and fried in quarters.
Serve with boiled potato or boiled manioc root, and a salad of cut tomatoes and slivered onions bathed in lime juice and a bit of salt. Have cold beer on hand.
(thanks to Juan Fajardo)

Another surprising fact about guinea pigs in South America was told to me by my friends Kate and Tim who visited Peru recently.

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Kate's story of a painting of The Last Supper, with guinea pig served as main course is backed up by this blog and this picture - that if you look closely, you can tell that on the plate is a Peruvian delicacy known as "Cuy", which translated into English is Guinea Pig.

"Today, churches in Lima and Cuzco still display Indian depictions of the Last Supper with Jesus and the 12 disciples eating roasted guinea pig."

You don't believe me? Visit this site and this explanation.
Peruvians consume an estimated 65 million guinea pigs each year.

Archaeological evidence shows guinea pigs were domesticated in Peru as far back as 2500 B.C., and had deep cultural and religious significance.