Ancestral Recipes from Camba Cuisine | Recetas ancestrales de la cocina camba

By El Deber:

Urucú

Urucú

We celebrate Camba cuisine, inspired by ancestral recipes with native ingredients such as urucú, avocado, tamarind, and achachairú.

Camba Heart of Palm Salad with Avocado and Tomato

Ensalada de palmito con palta y tomate

A variation of our traditional salad with fresh ingredients

Ingredients (4 servings)

  • 3 cups well-cooked Camba heart of palm, diced
  • 1 avocado, cubed
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, salt and pepper to taste
  • A handful of chopped parsley

Preparation
Mix the heart of palm, avocado, tomato, onion, parsley, and optionally, some black olives. Dress with lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.

Tamarind and Mint Refreshment

Refresco de tamarindo con menta

A natural, fresh, and detoxifying drink

Ingredients (6 servings)
200 g tamarind pulp, 1 liter cold water, 3 tbsp honey or sugar, mint leaves for garnish.

Preparation
Dissolve the tamarind pulp in water. Strain and sweeten to taste. Serve with ice and fresh mint.

Homemade Achachairú Ice Cream

Helado de achachairú

A refreshing dessert for hot days, made without an ice cream machine

Ingredients (6 servings)
300 g achachairú pulp, 200 g condensed milk, 200 ml heavy cream, 1 tsp lemon zest.

Preparation
Whip the cream until thick. Mix with condensed milk and chopped achachairú pulp. Freeze in a container, stirring every 30 minutes for 2 hours to break up crystals. Serve with lemon zest.

Refreshing Watermelon and Spearmint Juice

Jugo refrescante de sandía y hierbabuena

Colorful and perfect for the Santa Cruz climate

Ingredients 
(4 servings)
500 g seedless watermelon, 500 ml cold water, juice of 1 lemon, spearmint leaves, honey or sugar to taste.

Preparation
Blend the watermelon with water and lemon. Sweeten to taste. Optionally serve with spearmint and ice.

Creamy Urucú Rice

Arroz cremoso con urucú

Rice with beaten cheese and one of the most traditional ingredients from Santa Cruz

Ingredients (4 servings)
200 g short-grain rice (or popular Bolivian rice), 1 small onion, chopped, 1 garlic clove, 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth, 1 tbsp urucú paste, 1 cup grated Cordillera cheese, 1 tbsp butter, salt and pepper to taste

Preparation
Sauté the onion and garlic in butter. Add the rice and stir to coat with a thin film without toasting, until shiny. Gradually add hot broth, stirring until absorbed. Incorporate urucú and cheese, and adjust seasoning. Garnish with grated cheese.

Chef Nicole Wille Arzabe will answer questions from our readers who are beginning to prepare meals and desserts. You can email her at nawillea@hotmail.com

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