POTJE DE OLLUKO

The Aymaras give thanks for rain
The CHAKANA (the Southern Cross)

"The Aymaras are everlasting men because they remember the past before move into future" Carlos Mile Villena "Genesis of the Andean Culture"

Cieza de León, chronicler, collected in his works:...."After flood, Pachacamac repopulate the earth sending four stars, two male and two female. From one of the two couple was born the kings and the nobles and from the other the ordinary people" (Varcalcel "History of ancient Perú": volume IV). The Aymara people was situated in the south of Peru. They knew Astronomy more than others. At the beginning of the month of May, they celebrate the cross feast as well as all Andean people. Despite of some beliefs, this celebration is related to the constellation that appears in the firmament: The southern cross.

It was a day of happiness, gratefulness. Because of the paradox of the Andean culture, they (the Aymaras and the Incas) ate a tuber which is similar to drops of rain. It can come in a wide range of colors (red, yellow, dwelled) and shapes (round and small plenty of juice and nutrients). It is named: OLLUKO.

Nowadays, in spite of its harvest is plentiful in May, Olluko is also produced in November when rains begins in this part of Andes region. It said that Olluko has fresh flavor that strengthen and gets the urge to generate the life again. Olluko had a close relation with the Andean worldview.

POTJE DE OLLUKO

Ingredients:
1/2 Kg chopped olluko
1/2 Kg chopped potatoes,
salt to taste,
2 cups "chicha de jora",
2 teaspoon dried ground chili,
1 tbsp sugar,
2 tbsp lard,
Chopped fresh cheese

Preparation:
Put dried ground chili, lard, salt, sugar and chicha de jora in a clay pot. Cook it for 10 minutes, then add Olluko and potatoes (parboil). Cook on a low heat for half hour. Se retira del fuego and spread fresh cheese.
To serve acompañado de perejil.

Colaboración enviada por Rodolfo Tafur Zevallos
rodotafur@yahoo.com.mx