The Mapuche horse stew (cazuela) is a culinary tradition that was originally prepared in places where these animals were raised for consumption. Although their meat can still be found in traditional equine butchers located in the city center of Temuco.
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How to make Horse Stew?
Traditionally, this stew is made with what is known as “tumbas de caballo,” which are large pieces of meat obtained from the area around the horse’s spine.
Nutritional Information
Category: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Chilean
Calories: 350
Preparation: 30 minutes
Cooking: 60 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Chilean Horse Stew Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 kg of horse meat
- 6 medium potatoes
- 6 pieces of pumpkin
- 6 tablespoons of chuchoca (maize flour)
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 large carrot
- 1 cup of peas
- 1 cup of green beans
- 1 medium onion
- 1 large bell pepper
- 1 celery stalk
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Salt
- Pepper
Preparation
- Cut the horse meat into six pieces, wash it thoroughly in cold water, and drain. Set aside.
- In a large pot, add a splash of oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the horse meat, quartered onions, bell pepper, chopped carrots, and garlic. Sauté for a few minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon, and cover with 2 liters of cold water. Increase the heat and bring to a boil.
- Add the celery stalk, peas, and green beans. Season to taste, add a bit of oregano, and gently stir to combine. Bring to a boil again and cook covered for about 20 minutes.
- Add the whole potatoes and pumpkin pieces. Bring to a boil and cook for another 30 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Add the locro or chuchoca and boil for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until everything is well-cooked. Remove from heat and let it rest for a couple of minutes.
- Serve the horse stew immediately, piping hot, in large deep plates, adding touches of freshly chopped cilantro over the broth.
Benefits of consuming horse meat
- Horse meat is an excellent source of lean protein as it contains a significant amount of protein compared to its fat content.
- Horse meat is an important source of iron, an essential mineral that participates in the formation of red blood cells and helps improve oxygen transport in the body.
Did you know?
The Mapuche horse stew was a common preparation used in celebrations such as “nguillatun” or during an “eluwün” (Mapuche wake).
