Bolivian Food

Although it has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but, in Bolivia lunch is the main meal of day. It usually includes soup and a main dish. The potato is the main staple, served at most meals, sometimes with rice or noodles. Bolivian food is not often spicy, but a sauce "la llajwa" is usually available which is made with tomato and locoto (hot chilies). (http://www.languagecrossing.com/Destinations/Bolivia/Food_of_Bolivia/)Traditional Bolivian food uses meat in a lot of dishes, and this meat is either fried or boiled. Bolivians also use fish like Trout as a main protein in their dishes.
Breakfast (desayuno)
Bolivians tend to eat a very simple breakfast, usually consisting of tea or sometimes coffee, and marraqueta bread rolls. Occasionally, cheese, honey or jam is taken. A more native breakfast beverage is api, also known as chicha morada, served hot. In the market of Copacabana, buñuelos, drizzled with cane syrup, are an extremely popular breakfast treat. Much like in the U.S., children are often served breakfast cereal and milk in the morning. This sort of breakfast is becoming popular with Bolivian adults as well.

Mid-morning snack

Since breakfast is usually very light and simple, the customary Bolivian snack at 10:30 AM is an empanada known as the salteña, often consumed with more api, coffee, or a soft drink such as a Coca-Cola or a Papaya Salvietti.

Lunch (almuerzo)

Almuerzo is the most important meal of the Bolivian day, so much so that daily life tends

to revolve around it. Workers return home to dine on sopa y segundo, the obligatory course order. Sometimes a green salad is offered as an opener, then soup, then the main course. Lunch is taken at a leisurely pace and is traditionally followed by a nap, the oft-referred siesta.

Teatime (té)

Strangely, and very much like the British, Bolivians observe an afternoon tea break. Cups of black tea are usually taken with biscuits such as galletas Maria. Often in place of the more common black tea, yerba maté is drunk.

Dinner (cena)

La cena is a lighter, much more informal affair than lunch that typically takes place later than a typical American supper -- usually 8 PM or later. Popular among many Bolivians for dinner is ramen noodles, often combined with leftovers from almuerzo, or merely the leftovers themselves. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivian_cuisine)

[pic]
The acai berry (pronounced "aw-saw-ee") is a small dark purple (sometimes wine-colored) fruit that looks a bit like a grape and is slightly smaller and rounder. It grows in the tropical rain forests of Brazil and Bolivia where it has been a part of the local diet for hundreds of years. Its name (in Portuguese) is actually spelled acai.
[pic]

Sopa de mani (Peanut Soup)

[pic]

Fricase (Spicy Chicken stew)

[pic]

Locro de Gallina (Thick Rice & Chicken Soup with Vegetables)

[pic]

Patasca - Pork, Sheep or Beef Head Stew

Ingredients

1 whole pig, sheep, or cow's head 2 dried chili peppers, crushed, seeds removed
1 kilo (2 pounds) of mote (canned hominy works)
2 sprigs of wacataya, chopped
3 onions diced small
3 tomatoes diced small
1 sprig of hierba buena (spearmint), chopped very fine
2 tablespoons of shortening salt, pepper and cumin to taste

[pic]

Bolivian Ingredient Spotlight: Paprika

Paprika is considered a sweet spice.

[pic]

Ingredient Spotlight: Parsley

[pic] Bolivian Ingredient Spotlight: Plantains You may have seen plantains in the produce section of your grocery store and thought they were extra large unripe bananas. While plantains do resemble bananas they are quite different [pic]

Oregano

[pic]
THIS IS QUINOA ROJA - RED QUINOA

Quinoa is often called a grain and is usually catalogued in the grain section of shops. It is actually a seed from a plant that is related to Spinach and Chard

Chicha
A sour drink made from fermented corn, usually made at home and not commercially available. This drink has been enjoyed in the region since the time of the Inca.

[pic]
Singani

An alcoholic drink similar to the pisco popular in Chile and Peru, it is usually served on ice, mixed with Sprite or some sort of sweet juice, such as orange juice.