Today, I tried a dish called Cuy al Horno. I saw this dish mentioned a lot online, and everyone said it’s delicious, so I wanted to see what’s the big deal.
First, I needed to get the main ingredient – a guinea pig. To be honest, I was a bit hesitant at first. I mean, I’ve seen them as cute pets, but here they’re considered food. So, I went to the market, and sure enough, they had them. I picked one out, and the butcher prepared it for me. It was a bit unsettling, but I kept telling myself, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Once I got home, I searched online for some recipes. I found a basic one that looked easy. The recipe said I should clean the guinea pig thoroughly and then marinate it with some spices. I used what I had at home: some salt, pepper, cumin, and a lot of garlic. I really love garlic.
I rubbed the spices all over the guinea pig, inside and out. Then, the recipe said to let it sit for a few hours, so the flavors could sink in. I put it in the fridge and went about my day, doing some chores and what not.
A few hours later, I preheated the oven. It said to bake it at a high temperature to get the skin crispy. I put the guinea pig on a baking sheet, and I also added some potatoes around it. I figured it might as well be a full meal.
I put the whole thing in the oven and waited. The smell was amazing as it cooked. You could really smell the garlic and the spices. I checked it from time to time to make sure it wasn’t burning.
After about an hour or so, it looked ready. The skin was golden brown and crispy, just like the pictures I saw online. I took it out of the oven and let it cool for a bit.
Finally, it was time to try it. I cut a piece and took a bite. The skin was indeed very crispy, and the meat was juicy and flavorful. It tasted a bit like chicken, but richer, I guess. The potatoes were also great, they soaked up all the spices and the juices from the meat.
- Got a guinea pig from the market.
- Cleaned it up and rubbed it down with salt, pepper, cumin, and a bunch of garlic.
- Let it sit in the fridge for a few hours.
- Baked it in the oven with some potatoes at a high temperature until the skin was crispy.
- Ate it and surprisingly, it wasn’t that bad.
Here’s a quick rundown of what I did:
All in all, it was a pretty interesting experience. I wouldn’t say Cuy al Horno is something I’d eat every day, but it was definitely worth trying. If you’re ever feeling adventurous and want to try something new, give it a shot. You might be surprised, just like I was.
