Chicken and Bull Penis Soup / Recipe

Chicken Consommé  and Bull Penis Soup are very popular.

Chicken Consommé has for example, chicken feet (as in photo) and organ parts such as liver or the heart. The popcorn is usually sprinkled on top of the soup, like croutons on salad.



Bull Penis Soup (La Sopa de Pene)
Attention, all my men friends and family.....
Here's a dish for the brave and the non queesy stomach and for those who need a boost.

Today's bull


Tomorrow's soup

In Ecuador, as well as some other asian countries, eating soup made from bull penis has much the same effect as viagra or cialis, increasing blood flow to the genitals, improving stamina and enhancing sexual desire. It is eaten in Ecuador primarily in summer-autumn and is usually eaten by boys who are going through a coming of age, when they have a special ceremony.  With  a little help from a local guide, I found it available in city of  Banos at the market.  It wasn't that hard to find, but I do wonder how fresh it was
.
Believe it or not, after all my scouting around, I didn´t have the balls to try it and when I asked about it, the men simply thought I was a crazy woman.

Reasons why you might try it:
1) because I'm told it is delicious.
2) to be adventurous.
3) in certain situations, to be polite.
4) in a medical emergency, to induce vomiting.

Tips for Preparation:
The bull penis should be fresh.....like what?
maybe after a bull fight?
Be sure to cut it open and wash well because of the placement of the urinary tract. You don't want the flavor of urine in your food. You want to chop the penis horizontally, not vertically for more tenderness. When it is cooked it will taste like beef with tendons.

Here's the recipe:
3 pounds of sliced up bull penis
1 large chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed
1 tsp salt freshly ground black pepper

Scald the penis, then drain and clean. Place the penis in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Remove any scum, then simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and slice. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, garlic, and coriander and fry until the onion is golden. Add the penis slices and fry on both sides for a few minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients with a good grinding of pepper, add enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 2 hours, or until tender. Add a little water from time to time if necessary to prevent burning.

This should be eaten on special occasions, whether you are a young male or an old male.

Perhaps, on my next trip I'll do a personal study to determine it's effectiveness!

Saraguro - Going Back in Time

After busing for 2 hours north from Vilcabamba throgh beautiful green hills/mountains, I arrived in Saraguro, an indigenous cattle ranching town of 4000 population. Instead of "yellow cabs", there were pickup trucks lined up and loading up people from the bus. Before I knew it, someone tossed my carryon suitcase in a pickup and off I was delivered to a little hotel that I selected from the tour book (one of 3 in town)

I was awakened by the crowing of roosters and the mooing of black /white speckled cows. Outside the "Hostal Seman Wasi" I ventured along the quiet country, cobble stoned, mud puddled streets. No other tourists were to be seen. The local people were dressed in their native clothes. Men and women wore white or black felt hats. Men sported a long black ponytail, black poncho and black knickers. Short and squat women wored heavy pleated black skirts, black shawls fastened with ancester hand me down pins. They seemed to walk with pride, even if they wore mucky black rubber boots.

Although everyone greeted me with smiles and "buenos dias", it felt strange to be the outsider in a city not set up for tourists.
I meandered around town, entered a market where little juice stands were popular and watched them whip up fresh juices with quail eggs -perhaps not so clean shells and all.

I ate breakfast in one place open called "Mama Cuchara", a non-profit association to help indigenous women with loans and education. Instead of menus, you speak your best Spanish and hope to get what you ordered.

For a small town, their central park was the most manicured, flowered in all of Ecuador, much like my father would have enjoyed. Older women sat in the park, busy spinning wool yarn into balls and were humming. They were clearly happy, chatted with each other, producing warm scarfs and sweaters. I was able to sneak one photo, trying not to be the obvious ugly tourist. I also tried not to look blonde......but failed....and did not blend in.
Although I enjoyed the experience of immersion, and sometimes this is the best part, I found myself on the 11:15am bus heading north to a larger city.

Vilcabamba Snake Juice - 2 shots and 5 years younger

A restaurant,Shanta's Bar, is off the beaten path on the road to Rio Yambala and is a great place to chill. Alongside the bar, is a row of well worn, horse saddle seats. The walls are lined up with animal skulls, if you like that kind of thing. And finally, you can't miss the dramatic jar of "snake juice" on top of the bar, which houses a snake curled up at it's bottom.

The outgoing, friendly owner named "Shanta", wore a cowboy hat and a seasoned, handlebar mustache. He sat at our table and encouraged my group to ¨para probar¨(try/taste) his "snake juice". When he boasted that just two shots of the juice would make us 5 years younger, we could not refuse his offer. Not being much of a drinker myself, taking just one sip not only burnt my throat but altered my voice. However, I believe I did the right thing after my sip, by following up with a bite of lime and lick of salt.

Shanta's Bar also proudly offered sauteed frog legs, filet mignon, as well as pizza choices. However this restaurant/bar is especially known for the "snake juice" and I believe this is the real secret to longevity in Vilcabamba.

Also, after 2 shots, I found that the "snake juice" tasted better and better!