Chow mein, vegetable stew and cooking rice are some of the foods consumed in Guyana. In a previous article, he had mentioned that Pepper Pot, Metegee and Fruits are also some of the foods that are consumed in this South American country. If you are going to visit this beautiful and unpopulated country, when you see these dishes on the menu do not forget to order them, they are usually worth it.
Chow mein
Chow mein, which means stir-fry noodles, is a Chinese term and is the favorite dish of many Guyanese. On special occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries, this dish is usually on the menu. Chow’s mine is thin like spaghetti, but softer, it’s circular and yellowish when raw. Once cooked in boiling water, it loses its circular shape and a little color. Then it is added to the sautéed meat, usually chicken. bora, which is something like long beans, squash, or any other diced or finely chopped vegetable is also added to the noodles.
Vegetable stew
Rice, a staple in Guyana, is often served with vegetables and fried meat or fish. After the meat is cooked, vegetables such as squash, bora, and cabbage are added to the meat, just to name a few, along with seasonings. If necessary, a little water is also added to the pan and simmered. This is called a stew. When cooked, it is placed on top of a plate of cooked rice.
Rice for cooking
Cooking rice, which is generally called cook-up, is cooked at any time of the week, on special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas or when someone from another village visits a Guyanese home. This meal, as the name suggests, is an all-in-one dish. The main ingredient is rice. Peas, especially peas, meat, coconut milk and not coconut water, thyme, shallot, and other seasonings are cooked together. When cooked, some Guyanese would add a “pinch” of hot pepper sauce to the side of their dishes along with some fried plantains. Many consumers of this dish have claimed to suffer from itis, after eating it. So if you are visiting this food-loving country and give in to the temptation to eat a course or two of this dish, set aside at least an hour to sleep, after you’ve eaten this dish.
The food in this country is like in many other countries, it tells the story of where people came from and the current economic situation of the country. So, when visiting Guyana, don’t forget to try a plate or two of Chow mein, vegetable stew, and cooking rice.