Let’s jump across the border from Costa Rica to its southern neighbor Panama. Panama is an isthmus, a narrow piece of land connecting two larger pieces of land. Thank you 5th grade science and social studies for that random trivia that just sticks in my mind.
Panama is a tiny country with a big heart. And the theme of their food seems to be that simple is best. Younes especially loved this theme! He says their food was one of the most simple, yet comforting of what we've tried so far.
For our first meal from Panama, I wanted to make something that is synonymous with the country. And according to my very sophisticated google research, a stew called Sancocho is considered the national dish of Panama.
The Panamanian version of sancocho is a chicken stew with corn and starchy vegetables. The vegetables it uses seem to vary by region and individual recipes. This is the recipe I used, but I made it with potatoes instead of yuca. I did use green plantains, and some leftover chayote squash instead of the calabasa squash that the recipe called for. But the most important ingredient is culantro. Not to be confused with cilantro, culantro is an herb that has long, broad leaves. It's what gives the sancocho its distinct flavor. Luckily I was able to find plenty of it at Compare Foods.
To make the stew, first you have to cut up a whole chicken (side note: I NEED to get a better set of knives!) and rub it with some of the culantro leaves. Mince the rest of the leaves to add to the soup later. Next, boil the chicken while you start cutting the vegetables. Skim the foam off the top of the soup and then add the vegetables, culantro, and spices. It takes about 45 minutes - 1 hour for it to cook.
Younes and I are both in agreement: this stew was absolutely delightful. I served it the traditional way, with white rice. The rice soaks up the chicken broth and makes the somewhat light soup feel more filling. I really liked the combination of vegetables in it, too and the culantro flavor is notable. It actually tastes a bit like cilantro, but bolder. Anyways, the next time I have a cold, I’m requesting this chicken soup. It does wonders for both the body and the soul.
Well played, Panama.
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