Meatless Meals For Lent: Bolivian Llajwa
Editor’s note: FMS Missioner Maggie Van Roekel expands her hot sauce horizons with this staple Bolivian condiment.
One thing that many people know about me is that I absolutely love hot sauce. It’s a staple for me that goes on almost anything that I eat. When I arrived in Bolivia, I was eager to try llajwa, a Bolivian hot sauce which is served with almost every meal.
According to a National Geographic article on the subject many Bolivians claim about the condiment made from the locoto pepper, “We do not eat without llajwa” So far during my stay here,I have eaten it everywhere from the food vendors on campus to a student’s house in the Altiplano. I highly recommend this Bolivian staple to spice up any vegetarian dish you make this Lent. It is especially great with dishes like Aubrey’s sopa de maní.
Ingredients:
4 locoto peppers
2 tomatoes, diced
A few sprigs minced cilantro
Instructions:
Blend ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth.
Maggie’s reflection for Lent:
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
Matthew 5:13
Lord, as we flavor our food with llajwa, may we also remember that we are to flavor this earth. May our flavors meld with those with whom we interact with this day and every day. Amen.
