Eating healthy and good foods is important to maintain our body health. To maintain a healthy body, we must have a balance between healthy and bad foods. For this, there are many different types of food in the world that we can choose from.
Most healthy foods use a lot of spices and other ingredients that are important to the taste. There are many different types of foods, such as sweets, meats, vegetables, etc. Some of these foods have more nutritional value than others. Some people also prefer to eat foods that have a lot of flavor because they want to enjoy their food.
| Ajiaco | Sancocho |
| Mainly uses chicken. | Can use various kinds of meats, like beef, fish, pork, etc. |
| Uses guasca as the main herb ingredient. | Uses yuca, plantain, and auyama as main ingredients. |
Ajiaco and Sancocho are two traditional dishes from Latin America. The former is a soup while the latter is a stew. This is a dish that can be served with rice, noodles or any other type of carbohydrate. In the present time, this dish has gained popularity in different parts of the world such as the United States, Mexico, Philippines, and Europe.
Both ajiaco and sancocho are popular dishes in Colombia. Both are typically made with meat, but the main difference is that ajiaco usually uses chicken meat whereas sancocho uses various kinds of meats, like fish, beef, pork, and others.
In Bogotá, Colombia, ajiaco is a popular dish made from two kinds of chicken, three kinds of potatoes, and the galinsoga parviflora herb. That herb is also called guasca in Colombia, and guascas in the U.S. The dish should be topped with a few capers, some avocado slices, some corn on the cob, or a little cream.
In Colombia, a traditional dish called “sancocho” is made of various kinds of meat. The meat that is included is usually chicken, hen, pork ribs, cow ribs, fish, oxtail, and plantain, potato, cassava, and vegetables such as tomato, scallion, cilantro, and mazorca (corn on the cob
Depending on where you live, the preparations of Sancocho may include any of those meats that you want with plantain. Some people also top the salad with fresh cilantro, onion and squeezed lime – which is like a kind of pico de gallo minus the tomato. With the boiled soup, you are usually served a side of sliced avocado and a plate of white rice, with dipping into the soup before serving it.
Sancocho is made on special occasions, because it contains many ingredients, and the process of making it lasts a long time. It is important to prepare everything because that is the time that can be enjoyed with friends.
One of the vital vegetables that are put into Sancocho is yuca, plantain, and auyama. When you cannot find any of the others, do not worry. Simply add to the mixture some yuca, plantain, and auyama that you are not going to add.
Dishes for Special Occasions
Ajiaco is an amazing dish that can be served at special occasions such as weddings, birthday parties, religion ceremonies, and other family gatherings.
On the other hand, sancocho is also made on special occasions and on Sundays. However, you may also find this yummy dish made when the weather’s not good. It can take between 2-4 hours (or more) to make sancocho, depending on how many people you need to feed.
The History of Ajiaco & Sancocho
Historians believe that ajiaco was developed in Cuba by the Taino people, who are a subgroup of the Arawakan Indians (who live in northeastern South America, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico). It’s thought the dish became extremely popular in Cuba in the 16th century. It was first made by rural Cubans but was also appreciated by the rich.
On the other hand, sancocho was originally developed in the Azuero Peninsula in southwestern Panama. The ingredients were from both the New World and the Old World. In Panama, some people say the dish is a great hangover cure, while others declare the stew is perfect to eat on a hot day, as it helps cool you off.
No matter which soups you prefer, both are marvelous dishes. Ajiaco and sancocho have been influenced by ingredients and tastes from Spain, Africa, indigenous peoples, and more. These dishes have been popular for centuries and remain crowd-pleasing mainstays to this day.
Ajiaco and sancocho can be eaten any time, though both can be used for special occasions. These dishes are representative of their respective cultures, along with the influences of different cultures around the world. In most families, the best part of eating ajiaco or sancocho is being together and cooking together. There’s no question that these dishes tend to bring people together.
So, enjoy making and eating either dish with your loved ones and friends! You’re sure to have a happy gathering when serving ajiaco or sancocho.
