To the west of Nicaragua lies the city of Masaya, capital of the country's folklore, famous for its indigenous neighborhood Monimbó, a pre-Hispanic Chorotega village that has been characterized over the centuries by its bravery in defending its ethnicity, resisting Spanish colonization and two dictatorships.
Ancestral community
The indigenous community of Monimbó is known for its cuisine with some dishes that are not known in the rest of the country, and their preparation is passed down orally from generation to generation.
Every celebration is accompanied by special meals such as smoked bone soup, come and shut up, sour tamale, chanfaina, iguana pinol, and a variety of desserts.
During each feast, the foods are prepared by cooks known for their mastery in the culinary arts and are called 'Kitchen Matrons'; they are not limited only to religious festivities, but in the death of a community member, they lead the wake during the established days and on the anniversary.
The typical table
For cooking, they used utensils made of volcanic stones like the metate and cut meats with obsidian knives.
Among the dishes offered at midday were watery rice, cazuela dough, and other foods, accompanied by refreshments and sweets, and a sip of cususa was not missing.
They used to cook their food over flames and embers, which helped to perfect their cooking utensils using fired clay to make pots, strainers, casseroles, and griddles.
Thanks to this indigenous community, which has preserved its traditions, including gastronomy, today we can enjoy their creativity, crafts, and cuisine.
