The Cuban content creator Brianna, known on TikTok as @briana_matancera, once again showcased on social media one of the everyday realities faced by Cubans: the challenge of cooking the peas from the bodega.
Brianna documented step by step the process of preparing this stew. The peas are a common ingredient in Cuban kitchens, but those arriving from the warehouse are of low quality. They come dirty and are extremely hard.
"First, you have to choose them," the young woman comments, as she shows the peas filled with debris, twigs, and stones. Since they are sold in bulk, they are not packaged or sorted, so they must be cleaned thoroughly before cooking.
Then he put them to soften in the pressure cooker for 40 minutes, even using a method from Cuban folk wisdom that involves placing a metal utensil in the pot to speed up the cooking process. However, that didn't work either.
He tried to enhance the flavor and texture by adding pumpkin and malanga, as well as preparing a sauté with chili, onion, and garlic, but the peas remained tough.
“How do you soften the store-bought peas?” she asked her followers. The response came quickly.
Many users recommended soaking them overnight and adding half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water during cooking. This technique, passed down through generations, seems to be one of the few viable solutions to the low quality of the product.
The experience of Brianna not only reflects a domestic moment but also serves as an indirect denunciation of the deterioration of food distributed through the rationing system in Cuba and the daily challenges families face in maintaining dignity while feeding themselves.
Frequently asked questions about the preparation of peas and the food situation in Cuba
Why are the peas from the bodega in Cuba difficult to cook?
The peas distributed in the warehouse in Cuba are of low quality, which means they often come dirty and are extremely hard, making their cooking a challenge even with traditional methods such as using pressure cookers.
What techniques do Cubans recommend for softening peas?
To soften the peas, Cubans recommend soaking them overnight and adding half a teaspoon of baking soda to the water during cooking. This technique has been passed down from generation to generation as a solution to the low quality of the product.
How does the rationing system affect the quality of food in Cuba?
The rationing system in Cuba distributes low-quality food, forcing Cubans to deal with unclean and difficult-to-cook products. This decline in quality is an indirect indictment of the challenges families face in feeding themselves with dignity.
What is the perception of peas in Cuban culture both on the island and abroad?
Within Cuba, the pantry peas are seen as a basic yet problematic food due to their quality. In contrast, outside the island, some Cubans have started to appreciate this dish, especially when they have better quality ingredients available for its preparation, as is the case of the Cuban in the U.S. who rediscovered her fondness for this dish.
Filed under:
