Mutulese cuisine: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Huitlacoche, quintoniles, huauhzontles, flor de calabaza et al., Santa Maria la Ribera Market.jpg|220px|thumb|Ingredients at a market in [[K'alak Muul]]]] | [[File:Huitlacoche, quintoniles, huauhzontles, flor de calabaza et al., Santa Maria la Ribera Market.jpg|220px|thumb|Ingredients at a market in [[K'alak Muul]]]] | ||
'''Mutulese cuisine''' began 9000 years ago when agricultural communities formed, domesticated {{wp|maize}}, | '''Mutulese cuisine''' consists of the cooking traditions and practices from the [[Mutul]]. It began 9000 years ago when agricultural communities formed, domesticated {{wp|maize}}, and created the standard process of {{wp|nixtamalization}}. Their foodways was established aroung the practice of {{wp|Agroforestry}} and swidden cultures. After the establishment of [[Mutulese Ochran|Oversea territories in Ochran and Malaio]] during the 16 and 17th centuries, the Mutulese cuisine began to include Vespanian influences, like foreign spices, rice, dumplings... Over the centuries, this resulted in regional cuisines based on local conditions. It's an important aspect of the culture, social structure and popular traditions of the [[Mutul|Divine Kingdom]]. | ||
In addition to staples, such as the {{wp|Three Sisters (agriculture)|Three Sisters}} and chile peppers, ingredients include tomatoes, squashes, avocados, cocoa, vanilla, and sometime even edible flowers. Tropical fruits, many of which are indigenous to [[Ajax|Oxidentale]], are extremely popular. The principal source of animal proteins are poultry and venison, with a wide variety of birds being raised for their meats, ranging from turkeys to ostriches and terror birds, alongside deer and sometime even dogs. The 20th century saw the "democratization" of meat in popular cuisines as the reduction of the production costs allowed for population that beforehand had a diet made entirely on grains, fruits and vegetables in various forms. | In addition to staples, such as the {{wp|Three Sisters (agriculture)|Three Sisters}} and chile peppers, ingredients include tomatoes, squashes, avocados, cocoa, vanilla, and sometime even edible flowers. Tropical fruits, many of which are indigenous to [[Ajax|Oxidentale]], are extremely popular. The principal source of animal proteins are poultry and venison, with a wide variety of birds being raised for their meats, ranging from turkeys to ostriches and terror birds, alongside deer and sometime even dogs. The 20th century saw the "democratization" of meat in popular cuisines as the reduction of the production costs allowed for population that beforehand had a diet made entirely on grains, fruits and vegetables in various forms. | ||
==Main elements== | ==Main elements== | ||
===Cereals=== | |||
===Maize=== | ====Maize==== | ||
The main cereal of the Mutul was and remain {{wp|Maize}} which has become one of the symbol of the Divine Kingdom. Maize is never consumed as is: it is first dried, then mixed with lime in a process called {{wp|Nixtamalization}} to create a dough that will then be used as the basis of many other meal and dishes, such as the ubiquituous Tobil. Nixtamalization releases {{wp|niacin}}, a necessary B vitamin (vitamin B3) that prevents {{wp|pellagra}} and reduces incidents of protein deficiency. Fermented, this dough will also be used in beverages and others, while it will mostly be used to make soups and stew when it's fresh. | The main cereal of the Mutul was and remain {{wp|Maize}} which has become one of the symbol of the Divine Kingdom. Maize is never consumed as is: it is first dried, then mixed with lime in a process called {{wp|Nixtamalization}} to create a dough that will then be used as the basis of many other meal and dishes, such as the ubiquituous Tobil. Nixtamalization releases {{wp|niacin}}, a necessary B vitamin (vitamin B3) that prevents {{wp|pellagra}} and reduces incidents of protein deficiency. Fermented, this dough will also be used in beverages and others, while it will mostly be used to make soups and stew when it's fresh. | ||
===Fruits=== | |||
====Citrus==== | |||
[[File:Bitter oranges.jpg|200px|thumb|Bitter oranges hanging on their tree]] | |||
The first {{wp|citrus}} to reach the Mutul were imported directly from [[Pulaui_Cuisine#Citrus|Pulaui cultivars]] in the 17th century. They were an immediate success with the Mutuleses and quickly grew as a vital component of the country' flavor profile. Nowadays, the most popular varieties of citrus in the Divine Kingdom remain the {{wp|Bitter orange}} (despite its inedible raw pulp) and the {{wp|Key lime|green lime}}. | |||
Citrus are utilized by the Mutuleses for many purposes, mostly related to flavoring. Examples include marinades, {{wp|marmalade}}s, jellies, {{wp|Pickled lime|pickling}}, and {{wp|Bitters|alcoholic beverages}}. | |||
====other fruits==== | |||
=== | ===Vegetables=== | ||
====Squashes==== | |||
The earliest known evidence of the domestication of ''Cucurbita'' dates back at least 8,000 years ago, predating the domestication of other crops in the Mutul by at least 4,000 years. Uses for squashes and gourds were numerous and changed thourough history. Today, squashes and pumpkins are eaten as porridge, cakes, soups, or stews and are also used to prepare sauces. Pumpkin seeds are also used in Mutulese cuisine in some recipes. | |||
====beans==== | |||
The main cultivar used in the Divine kingdom is the {{wp|Phaseolus vulgaris|common bean}}. It is often use to accompany other dishes, or as filling inside {{wp|Tamale|Tobil}}. There are many varieties of beans being cultivated in the Mutul, but the most important ones are red and black beans. | |||
===Spices=== | |||
====Peppers==== | |||
[[File:Red_hot_chilli_peppers.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Ch'akaya Chili peppers]] | |||
One of the most basic ingredient of Mutulese cuisine is the {{wp|Chili peppers}}. Salt and spices are so common in Mutulese dishes that to go without them is considered to be fasting. It is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the Divine Kingdom with traces of its presence dating back to 6000 years ago. But Chiles aren't the only kind of peppers being used in Mutulese gastronomy. Varieties of peppers include other native from Oxidentale such as {{wp|Habanero|Fake Ochranese pepper}}, {{wp|Capsicum annuum|Xcatic pepper}}, {{wp|bell pepper}}, {{wp|Jalapeño|Yjakab}}, but also other varieties from [[Ajax|Ochran}]] such as {{wp|Black pepper}}. | |||
===Meat=== | |||
====Poultry==== | |||
Because of its historical lack of mammalian species, except for a few exceptions like deers, birds and avians has historically been the most important source of animal proteins for the Mutuleses, above even seafood. {{wp|Domestic turkey|Turkey}} has been domesticated in the Mutul more than 2,000 years ago and remain the most popular form of poultry of the country especially since industrialized farming has made it very cheap for the amount of meat it produces. Other animals that were domesticated endogenously by the Mutuleses include {{wp|Domestic duck|ducks}}, {{wp|Columbidae|pigeons}}, and {{wp|Domestice geese|geese}}. | Because of its historical lack of mammalian species, except for a few exceptions like deers, birds and avians has historically been the most important source of animal proteins for the Mutuleses, above even seafood. {{wp|Domestic turkey|Turkey}} has been domesticated in the Mutul more than 2,000 years ago and remain the most popular form of poultry of the country especially since industrialized farming has made it very cheap for the amount of meat it produces. Other animals that were domesticated endogenously by the Mutuleses include {{wp|Domestic duck|ducks}}, {{wp|Columbidae|pigeons}}, and {{wp|Domestice geese|geese}}. | ||
With the historical expansion of the Mutul's influence in [[Mutulese Ochran]], Mutuleses traders brought back with them many other avian species to be raised as cattle. These included {{wp|Ostrich}}es and {{wp|Moa}} from Scipia and Malaio. All of these species are raised for their eggs, meat, and feathers. | With the historical expansion of the Mutul's influence in [[Mutulese Ochran]], Mutuleses traders brought back with them many other avian species to be raised as cattle. These included {{wp|Ostrich}}es and {{wp|Moa}} from Scipia and Malaio. All of these species are raised for their eggs, meat, and feathers. | ||
====Venison==== | |||
Steaks, tenderloin, roasts, sausages, jerky, and minced venison meat are all common dishes in the Mutul. This is due to the country having large populations of both wide and farmed {{wp|white-tailed deer}}s which makes it an analogue to beef in other countries in the [[Ajax|world]]. | |||
==Dishes== | |||
=== | ===Wah=== | ||
[[File:Coox hanal salbutes.jpg|200px|thumb|Zaal But ready to be served]] | |||
'''Wahob''' are a type of thin, unleavened flatbread, made from {{wp|hominy}} and is the most common way to consume corn in a solid form in the [[Mutul]]. Almost never eaten on their own, they are however at the basis of many other dishes. | |||
=== | A Wah is made by curing maize in limewater in the {{wp|nixtamalization}} process, which causes the skin of the corn kernels to peel off (the waste material is typically fed to poultry), then grinding and cooking it, kneading it into a dough, pressing it flat into thin patties using a rolling pin or a {{wp|Tortilla press|press}}, and cooking it on a very hot {{wp|comal|zemet}}. Soaking the maize in limewater is important because it makes available the B vitamin niacin and the amino acid tryptophan. | ||
{{ | |||
A puffed, deep fried Wah is called a {{wp|Salbut|Zaal But}}. These are served topped with lettuce, sliced avocado, pulled chicken or turkey, tomato and pickled pepper. Similarily, a refried Wah is called a {{wp|Panucho|Ch'ilwah}}, which is typically stuffed with refried black beans, with the same topping as a Zaal But. Other variant include the '''Säkpam''' (toasted Wah). Both are fast food typical of the Xuman Peninsula where they are made with thicker Wahob as their basis, called '''pim'''. | |||
A distinction is made between sour and sweet Wahob, which are respectively called Pahun and {{wp|Güirila|Tzahun}}. The latter as especially appreciated as part of breakfasts or desserts. | |||
Wah are customarily served and eaten warm; when cool, they often become rubbery or grainy as the cooked starches stale. It is however possible to "save" Wahob that have become too dry to eat. Wahob that have gone through this "remoistening" process are called '''Chik'''', which is homonymous to the procedure itself. | |||
====Papak'sul==== | |||
[[File:Papadzules (4072432165).jpg|200px|thumb|right|Papak'sultek]] | |||
In its simplest form, {{wp|Papadzules|Papak'sul}} (lit. "Smeared and Drenches") consists of Wahob dipped in a sauce of xt’op ({{wp|Pumpkin seed|seeds}} of the xka’al pumpkin) filled with hard-boiled eggs, and garnished with a cooked tomato-pepper sauce. They are said to be ancient, as well as the most popular {{wp|entrées|entrée}} of the [[Mutul]]. It is one of the symbolic dishes of the {{wp|Mayan peoples|Chaan peoples}} from the Divine Kingdom as a whole. | |||
== | ====Motuntun==== | ||
[[File:Huevos Motuleños.png|200px|thumb|left|Motun-style eggs, served with plantains and {{wp|avocado|uniw}}]] | |||
The {{wp|Huevos motuleños|Motuntun}} or "egg Motun-style", is a breakfast food which originated in the [[Yajawil of Kaniktun]]. The dish is made with fried eggs on a lightly-fried Wah with {{wp|refried beans| refried black beans}}, peas, plantains, and a spicy sauce. Common accompaniments include rice or {{wp|guacamole|Uniw Kahi}}. Since it's first apparition on a table, it has become a {{wp|comfort food}} for many Chaan people, especially from the Xuman Peninsula, and has been popularized at the internationale as a standard of every Mutulese restaurants. | |||
===Tobil=== | ===Tobil=== | ||
[[File:081223_tamales.JPG| | [[File:081223_tamales.JPG|200px|thumb|A basket of Tobilob]] | ||
{{wp|Tamal|Tobil}} (''plural:Tobilob'') is one of the oldest documented dish of the [[Mutul]] and seems to have existed already during the [[Paol'lunyu Dynasty]]. They were used as easily portable food, for hunting trips, and for traveling large distances, as well as supporting armies. Gods are represented eating Tobilob and they are a universal dish, served at the tables of both commoners and royalty, possibly for two or three millenium now. They are often served at feasts and festivals. | {{wp|Tamal|Tobil}} (''plural:Tobilob'') is one of the oldest documented dish of the [[Mutul]] and seems to have existed already during the [[Paol'lunyu Dynasty]]. They were used as easily portable food, for hunting trips, and for traveling large distances, as well as supporting armies. Gods are represented eating Tobilob and they are a universal dish, served at the tables of both commoners and royalty, possibly for two or three millenium now. They are often served at feasts and festivals. | ||
Tobilob come in many shapes and forms. For example, there are the '''Chak Tobil''' who owe their name to the tomato and annatto seed that give them their distinct red color. Another colorful Tobilob is the '''Ek Tobil''' made with blue corn and chocolate. | Tobilob come in many shapes and forms. For example, there are the '''Chak Tobil''' who owe their name to the tomato and annatto seed that give them their distinct red color. Another colorful Tobilob is the '''Ek Tobil''' made with blue corn and chocolate. | ||
Because of their old age, Tobilob dishes have greatly evolved sometime diverging widely from the most "basic" and famous form. They can be sweet, "'''Mon Tobil'''" prepared from sweet corn and without meat, or small and firm like the "'''Tz'i Ok Tobil''' ("''Small Dog Tobil''", served with meat broth to be dipped in). '''Tzi Tobil''' are in fact a popular snack as their small size and plain taste make them perfect ingredient to be dipped in other foods such as soups, sauces, or beans. | Because of their old age, Tobilob dishes have greatly evolved sometime diverging widely from the most "basic" and famous form. They can be sweet, "'''Mon Tobil'''" prepared from sweet corn and without meat, or small and firm like the "'''Tz'i Ok Tobil''' ("''Small Dog Tobil''", served with meat broth to be dipped in). '''Tzi Tobil''' are in fact a popular snack as their small size and plain taste make them perfect ingredient to be dipped in other foods such as soups, sauces, or beans. | ||
===Pibil=== | ===Pibil=== | ||
[[File:Plato-mexico.jpg|220px|thumb|A plate of Ulum Pibil, served with rice | [[File:Plato-mexico.jpg|220px|thumb|A plate of Ulum Pibil, served with rice and Kaji]] | ||
For the verb "''P'ib''" ("''Burried''"), Pibil refers to the cooking method in which foods are wrapped generally in banana leaves, and cooked in a pit oven. Various meats are cooked this way, such as turkey ('''Ulum Pibil'''), chicken ('''Pol Pibil'''), dog ('''Ok Pibil'''), or even Ostriches ('''Nokmut Pibil''') and Terror Birds ('''Sajal Pibil'''). Traditional Pibil involve marinating the meat in a strong {{wp|Bitter orange|acidic citrus juice}}, seasoning it {{wp|Annatto}} seeds, and then roasting the meat while it is wrapped in banana leaf. | For the verb "''P'ib''" ("''Burried''"), Pibil refers to the cooking method in which foods are wrapped generally in banana leaves, and cooked in a pit oven. Various meats are cooked this way, such as turkey ('''Ulum Pibil'''), chicken ('''Pol Pibil'''), dog ('''Ok Pibil'''), or even Ostriches ('''Nokmut Pibil''') and Terror Birds ('''Sajal Pibil'''). Traditional Pibil involve marinating the meat in a strong {{wp|Bitter orange|acidic citrus juice}}, seasoning it {{wp|Annatto}} seeds, and then roasting the meat while it is wrapped in banana leaf. | ||
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===Pok Chuk=== | ===Pok Chuk=== | ||
[[File:Deerfield Beach Casa Maya poc chuc faujitas.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Pok Chuk]] | |||
Another common method to prepare poultry, especially in the provinces of the Xuman Peninsula like the [[Yajawil of Ekab]], it the '''Pok Chuk''' ("Toasted and grilled"). The meat is prepared in citrus marinade and is then cooked over a grill. It's served accompanied with rices, fried black beans, and seasoned with fresh {{wp|Bitter orange}} juice. It is often accompanied by a sauce called ''X'nipek'' (dog nostril) in {{wp|Mayan languages|Etaan}}. | Another common method to prepare poultry, especially in the provinces of the Xuman Peninsula like the [[Yajawil of Ekab]], it the '''Pok Chuk''' ("Toasted and grilled"). The meat is prepared in citrus marinade and is then cooked over a grill. It's served accompanied with rices, fried black beans, and seasoned with fresh {{wp|Bitter orange}} juice. It is often accompanied by a sauce called ''X'nipek'' (dog nostril) in {{wp|Mayan languages|Etaan}}. | ||
===Alaxax Pech=== | |||
[[File:Canard à l'orange Les Boucheries Parisiennes.jpg|200px|thumb|Alaxax Pech being cooked]] | |||
The '''Alaxax Pech''' ([[Mutli]]: ''Orange Duck'') is a speciality of the Mutulese cuisine consisting of {{wp|roasting|roasted}} or {{wp|braising|braised}} {{wp|Duck as food|duck}} prepared with an alcoholic beverage like {{wp|Balché}} and a special sauce made from chili, bitter orange, green lemons, and other spices such as cinnamon and anise. It is a popular and common example of Mutulese "High Cuisine" and has a long history dating back to the early days of the Mutulese expansion across the Makrian and Vespanian Oceans. | |||
At a private table, it is popularly served with white rice as a side dish. But at a restaurant or during festivities, it is more commonly presented on its own. | |||
===Soups and stews=== | ===Soups and stews=== | ||
[[File: | [[File:Sopa_de_lima.jpg|200px|thumb|Katun soup with strips of {{wp|tortilla|Wah}}]] | ||
The [[Mutul]] possess a great variety of {{wp|soups}} and {{wp|stews}}, with influences from both local traditions but also from [[Ajax|Ochran]]. They are typically {{wp|broth}} and "clear soups" and are lacking in diary products such as {{wp|milk}} or creams. They can be served warm or hot, depending on the specific soup, with some being served only cold for example. They are eaten as a dish of their own, and almost never as an entrée or a dessert. One of the most famous Mutulese soup is the {{wp|Lime soup|Katun soup}} made of chicken, {{wp|lime juice}} and accompanied with tomato, bell pepper and other ingredients. | The [[Mutul]] possess a great variety of {{wp|soups}} and {{wp|stews}}, with influences from both local traditions but also from [[Ajax|Ochran]]. They are typically {{wp|broth}} and "clear soups" and are lacking in diary products such as {{wp|milk}} or creams. They can be served warm or hot, depending on the specific soup, with some being served only cold for example. They are eaten as a dish of their own, and almost never as an entrée or a dessert. One of the most famous Mutulese soup is the {{wp|Lime soup|Katun soup}} made of chicken, {{wp|lime juice}} and accompanied with tomato, bell pepper and other ingredients. | ||
While the Divine Kingdom is mostly famed for its clear soups, it has also taken the habit of using {{wp|coconut milk}} to thicken them slightly, creating dishes such as {{wp|Sayur lodeh|Coconut Green Soup}} inspired from [[Ajax|Vespanian]] cuisine. | While the Divine Kingdom is mostly famed for its clear soups, it has also taken the habit of using {{wp|coconut milk}} to thicken them slightly, creating dishes such as {{wp|Sayur lodeh|Coconut Green Soup}} inspired from [[Ajax|Vespanian]] cuisine. | ||
Many dishes are defined by their | ==Sauces== | ||
[[File:Xnipek.jpg|200px|thumb|A panel of Mutuleses sauces available at a restaurant]] | |||
Sauces are a common ingredient in Mutulese cuisine, served as a condiment, stirred into soups and stews, or incorporated into {{wp|tamale|tobil}} fillings. They may be raw or cooked, and are generally served at room temperature. | |||
Many dishes are defined by their sauces and the chiles those sauces contain (which are usually very spicy), rather than the meat or vegetable that the sauce covers. For example, corn soups are classified as "red", "white", "black", "yellow" or "green" depending on the chile sauce used or omitted. Popular sauces include the '''X'nipek''', made from {{wp|Bitter orange|acidic citruce juice}}, tomatoes, cinnamon, and allspice. | |||
Another common condiment is the {{wp|salsa roja|Chak Kutamik}},lit. "red sauce". It's a type of spicy red sauce made of red tomatoes grounded with chile, salt, lime, and pepper to taste. It has many sub-types depending on its use: as a cooking sauce in which the ingredients are cooked and then ground, as a roasting sauce to be used on the {{wp|Comal (cookware)|zemet}}, or simply grounded directly with raw elements, ready to eat. A blender can be used for the grinding process. After the sauce is prepared, it can be cooked again in a pan with little oil. | |||
Also an example of the color-based naming scheme so common among Mutuleses dishes, the {{wp|salsa verde|Yax Kutamik}} (lit. "green" or "blue" sauce) is another type of spicy, but green, sauce based on small tomatoes and {{wp|Chili pepper|green chili peppers}}. Like its red brethren it can be used for cooking, roasting, filling, or as condiment for raw aliments. | |||
===Kaji=== | |||
[[File:Chirmol con Chaya.jpg|200px|thumb|Example of traditional Kaji, ready to be served]] | |||
'''Kaji''' or '''Kahi''', more commonly known as "Mutulese {{wp|Curry}}", is a term that has come to be used for a number of sometime quite dissimilar sauces and marinades from the [[Mutul|Divine Kingdom]]. Generally, a Kaji sauce contains a fruit, such as {{wp|avocado|Uniw}}, nut, one or more types of chili pepper, and such spice as black pepper, cinnamon, or cumin. The recipe can become very complex and involve as many as fourty ingredients, grouped into five distinct classes: hot (chili), sour (tomatillo), sweet (fruit and sugar), spice and thick (seed, nut). | |||
Kaji generally present itself for sale in the form of a powder or paste that's the result of an extremely laborious roasting and grinding process which explains why many families have their own varieties of curry passed down for generations, with their preparation reserved for special events in large batches. | |||
==Beverages== | ==Beverages== | ||
{{ | ===Non-Alcoholic Beverages=== | ||
===Chocolate=== | |||
{{see also|Four Cardinal Beverages}} | |||
{{see also|Mutulese Chocolate}} | |||
====Sah==== | |||
[[File:Champurrado thenewplace sf.jpg|200px|thumb|an Hot bowl of chocolate-flavored Sah in the morning]] | |||
{{wp|Atole|Sah}}, also called "Sa" or "Saj" depending on the pronounciation, is a traditional hot corn- and {{wp|masa|juch'ul}}-based beverage. The traditional recipe include mixing the juch'ul (maize dough) with water, {{wp|Panela|unrefined cane sugar}}, cinnamon, vanilla, and optional chocolate or fruit (like pineapple). The mixture is blended and heated before serving. More specifically, it is made by toasting the dough on a griddle, then adding water that was boiled with cinnamon sticks. The resulting blends vary in texture, ranging from a porridge to a very thin, liquid consistency. | |||
A very old recipe, Sah knows a multiple of variants. Most depend on which spices and fruits are used for flavor, but it is not rare to see the juch'ul replaced with {{wp|Pinole|Ch'aj}}, rice, or some other cereal. Ground nuts, orange zest, and egg can also be employed to thicken and enrich the drink. Even the water can be replaced by {{wp|Coconut milk}}. Adding Chocolate to the Sah is a very popular variant. | |||
It is traditionally served in the morning as a simple breakfast or as a late afternoon snack. It can be found as a {{wp|street food}} in every city of the [[Mutul]] without difficulty. | |||
====Keyem==== | |||
[[File:Tabasco Pozol sin cacao.jpg|220px|thumb|Sak Keyem ready to make the drink]] | |||
prepared with boiled cornmeal and water in its most basic form, {{wp|Pozol|Keyem}} is the name of both fermented corn dough and the drink made from it. Other ingredients may be added to it, such as cocoa. It's a thirst-quencher drunk throughout the day or used as provisions for long journeys as it does not go bad easily. It as a special cultural status in the Divine Kingdom, as it is very cheap, high in calories, and drinking large quantities of it isn't associated with any sin such as gluttony, making it the perfect food for poor workers. It also has a role in traditional medecine, where it is used as a {{wp|Poultice|cataplasm}} against wound infections, and in religious ceremonies, as it's a common offering to the gods. | |||
Today Keyem is very rarely prepared from just fermented corn dough and water. Cacao is almost always added to it, unsweetened. Salts and peppers are also very commonly added to the basic preparation as well as fruits like {{wp|papaya}} or its grinded seeds. Various provinces of the Divine Kingdom consume Keyem differently, such as the {{wp|Chontal maya|Yokot'anob}} who prepare four different types of the drink, to the {{wp|Mam people|Mam}} who often stop at midday to take a bite of {{wp|Chipotle|Smoke pepper}} while drinking Keyem, to quench the spicy taste of the pepper with the freshness and smoothness of the cold corn-based drink. | |||
====Ch'aj==== | |||
[[File:Pinolillo.jpg|200px|thumb|Ch'aj in its powder form]] | |||
{{wp|Pinole|Ch'aj}} is roasted ground maize, which is then mixed with a combination of {{wp|cocoa bean|cocoa}}, {{wp|agave}}, {{wp|cinnamon}}, {{wp|chia seeds}}, {{wp|vanilla}}, or other spices. The resulting powder is then used as a nutrient-dense ingredient to make different foods, such as cereals, baked goods, {{wp|tortilla|waj}}, and beverages. It is especially popular in the eastern regions of the [[Mutul]]. | |||
Depending on the type of Ch'aj and the quality of its ingredients, pinole can be high in key vitamins and nutrients, including protein, amino acids, fiber, and antioxidants. Due to the large amount of fiber and the slow digestion of the maize, Ch'aj also has a very high satiety effect, leaving those who consume it feeling full for a longer period of time. | |||
The Ch'aj found in rural markets is generally made by hand and sold as a powder in burlap pouches. A sugar-heavy, mass-market version can also sometimes be found in [[Sante Reze|Rezeses]] supermarkets and in other countries where Mutuleses food stores can be found. If unsweetened, it is rather bitter. The drink usually has a rough, gritty texture. It is traditionally served out of a gourd made of the shell of the {{wp|Crescentia alata|jicaro fruit}} but nowadays it is only done so in tourist attractions. | |||
===Sumukah=== | |||
{{wp|Agua fresca|Sumukah}} (lit. "Tasty Water" in [[Mutli]]), are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water and usually include {{wp|jelly}}-like ingredients. They are commonly sold by street vendors as refreshments. As a result Sumukahob are not a specific drink, but a class of beverages sold by street vendors, also they have, since the 20th century, become popular in restaurants year-round as well. There is no set recipe, and the exact flavor or taste of the drink is left to the maker. They are, however, always served fresh and cold. | |||
===Alcoholic Beverages=== | |||
====Balché==== | |||
Balché is a mildly intoxicating beverage that is very popular in the [[Mutul]]. The drink is made from the bark of a leguminous tree, the {{wp|Lonchocarpus violaceus|liliac tree}}, which is soaked in honey and water, and fermented. Since the majority of the beverage's fermentable sugar is derived from honey, Balché is often considered to be a form of {{wp|Mead}}, although it is culturally closer to {{wp|beer}}. | |||
====Rum==== | |||
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting then distilling sugarcane {{wp|molasses}} or {{wp|sugarcane juice}}. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels. | |||
Rum was first brought to [[Mocapaha]] and [[Belfras|Southern Belfras]] by the [[Latium|Latins]], alongside {{wp|sugarcane}}. The secret of its production then spread to the Xuman Peninsula and then rest of the [[Mutul]]. When [[Mutulese Ochran|Mutuleses traders]] reached Ochran and the Vespanian Ocean, they also discovered other manner to distill sugarcane into alcoholic beverages. All of these traditions influenced the modern "Mutulese Rum", which was for all of the duration of the Mutulese Empire, the first and foremost alcoholic beverage taken on long-range expeditions to create {{wp|Grog}} by diluting the rum with water and mixing the result with lemon or sour orange juice. | |||
Dividing rum into meaningful groupings is complicated because no single standard exists for what constitutes rum. Instead, rum is defined by the varying rules and laws of the nations producing the spirit. In the [[Mutul]] there is a eight-month minimum ageing requirement, and a classification that distinguish between "molasse" Rum, which are often on the stronger side, and "cane juice" Rum, which retain a greater amount of the original flavor of the sugar cane and are generally more expensive. The number of distillations used to produce the liquor is also used as a distinguishing factor in the official convention. The Mutulese classification does not talk of Flavored rums nor of spiced rums because flavoring the beverage with fruits and spices at the same time is the norm in the Divine Kingdom rather than the exception. | |||
====Patpach'==== | |||
{{wp|Tepache|Patpach'}} is a fermented beverage made from the peel and the rind of {{wp|pineapple}}s, and is sweetened either with {{wp|piloncillo}} or {{wp|brown sugar}}, seasoned with powdered {{wp|cinnamon}}, and served cold. Despite its low alcoholic content (2%), Mutuleses authorities still classify it as an alcoholic beverages with the corresponding regulations on its production. | |||
{{Mutul Topics|state=expanded}} | |||
[[category:Mutul]] | [[category:Mutul]] | ||
[[category:Mutulese culture]] | [[category:Mutulese culture]] |
Latest revision as of 09:46, 20 July 2021
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Mutulese cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices from the Mutul. It began 9000 years ago when agricultural communities formed, domesticated maize, and created the standard process of nixtamalization. Their foodways was established aroung the practice of Agroforestry and swidden cultures. After the establishment of Oversea territories in Ochran and Malaio during the 16 and 17th centuries, the Mutulese cuisine began to include Vespanian influences, like foreign spices, rice, dumplings... Over the centuries, this resulted in regional cuisines based on local conditions. It's an important aspect of the culture, social structure and popular traditions of the Divine Kingdom.
In addition to staples, such as the Three Sisters and chile peppers, ingredients include tomatoes, squashes, avocados, cocoa, vanilla, and sometime even edible flowers. Tropical fruits, many of which are indigenous to Oxidentale, are extremely popular. The principal source of animal proteins are poultry and venison, with a wide variety of birds being raised for their meats, ranging from turkeys to ostriches and terror birds, alongside deer and sometime even dogs. The 20th century saw the "democratization" of meat in popular cuisines as the reduction of the production costs allowed for population that beforehand had a diet made entirely on grains, fruits and vegetables in various forms.
Main elements
Cereals
Maize
The main cereal of the Mutul was and remain Maize which has become one of the symbol of the Divine Kingdom. Maize is never consumed as is: it is first dried, then mixed with lime in a process called Nixtamalization to create a dough that will then be used as the basis of many other meal and dishes, such as the ubiquituous Tobil. Nixtamalization releases niacin, a necessary B vitamin (vitamin B3) that prevents pellagra and reduces incidents of protein deficiency. Fermented, this dough will also be used in beverages and others, while it will mostly be used to make soups and stew when it's fresh.
Fruits
Citrus
The first citrus to reach the Mutul were imported directly from Pulaui cultivars in the 17th century. They were an immediate success with the Mutuleses and quickly grew as a vital component of the country' flavor profile. Nowadays, the most popular varieties of citrus in the Divine Kingdom remain the Bitter orange (despite its inedible raw pulp) and the green lime.
Citrus are utilized by the Mutuleses for many purposes, mostly related to flavoring. Examples include marinades, marmalades, jellies, pickling, and alcoholic beverages.
other fruits
Vegetables
Squashes
The earliest known evidence of the domestication of Cucurbita dates back at least 8,000 years ago, predating the domestication of other crops in the Mutul by at least 4,000 years. Uses for squashes and gourds were numerous and changed thourough history. Today, squashes and pumpkins are eaten as porridge, cakes, soups, or stews and are also used to prepare sauces. Pumpkin seeds are also used in Mutulese cuisine in some recipes.
beans
The main cultivar used in the Divine kingdom is the common bean. It is often use to accompany other dishes, or as filling inside Tobil. There are many varieties of beans being cultivated in the Mutul, but the most important ones are red and black beans.
Spices
Peppers
One of the most basic ingredient of Mutulese cuisine is the Chili peppers. Salt and spices are so common in Mutulese dishes that to go without them is considered to be fasting. It is one of the oldest cultivated crops in the Divine Kingdom with traces of its presence dating back to 6000 years ago. But Chiles aren't the only kind of peppers being used in Mutulese gastronomy. Varieties of peppers include other native from Oxidentale such as Fake Ochranese pepper, Xcatic pepper, bell pepper, Yjakab, but also other varieties from Ochran} such as Black pepper.
Meat
Poultry
Because of its historical lack of mammalian species, except for a few exceptions like deers, birds and avians has historically been the most important source of animal proteins for the Mutuleses, above even seafood. Turkey has been domesticated in the Mutul more than 2,000 years ago and remain the most popular form of poultry of the country especially since industrialized farming has made it very cheap for the amount of meat it produces. Other animals that were domesticated endogenously by the Mutuleses include ducks, pigeons, and geese.
With the historical expansion of the Mutul's influence in Mutulese Ochran, Mutuleses traders brought back with them many other avian species to be raised as cattle. These included Ostriches and Moa from Scipia and Malaio. All of these species are raised for their eggs, meat, and feathers.
Venison
Steaks, tenderloin, roasts, sausages, jerky, and minced venison meat are all common dishes in the Mutul. This is due to the country having large populations of both wide and farmed white-tailed deers which makes it an analogue to beef in other countries in the world.
Dishes
Wah
Wahob are a type of thin, unleavened flatbread, made from hominy and is the most common way to consume corn in a solid form in the Mutul. Almost never eaten on their own, they are however at the basis of many other dishes.
A Wah is made by curing maize in limewater in the nixtamalization process, which causes the skin of the corn kernels to peel off (the waste material is typically fed to poultry), then grinding and cooking it, kneading it into a dough, pressing it flat into thin patties using a rolling pin or a press, and cooking it on a very hot zemet. Soaking the maize in limewater is important because it makes available the B vitamin niacin and the amino acid tryptophan.
A puffed, deep fried Wah is called a Zaal But. These are served topped with lettuce, sliced avocado, pulled chicken or turkey, tomato and pickled pepper. Similarily, a refried Wah is called a Ch'ilwah, which is typically stuffed with refried black beans, with the same topping as a Zaal But. Other variant include the Säkpam (toasted Wah). Both are fast food typical of the Xuman Peninsula where they are made with thicker Wahob as their basis, called pim.
A distinction is made between sour and sweet Wahob, which are respectively called Pahun and Tzahun. The latter as especially appreciated as part of breakfasts or desserts.
Wah are customarily served and eaten warm; when cool, they often become rubbery or grainy as the cooked starches stale. It is however possible to "save" Wahob that have become too dry to eat. Wahob that have gone through this "remoistening" process are called Chik', which is homonymous to the procedure itself.
Papak'sul
In its simplest form, Papak'sul (lit. "Smeared and Drenches") consists of Wahob dipped in a sauce of xt’op (seeds of the xka’al pumpkin) filled with hard-boiled eggs, and garnished with a cooked tomato-pepper sauce. They are said to be ancient, as well as the most popular entrée of the Mutul. It is one of the symbolic dishes of the Chaan peoples from the Divine Kingdom as a whole.
Motuntun
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The Motuntun or "egg Motun-style", is a breakfast food which originated in the Yajawil of Kaniktun. The dish is made with fried eggs on a lightly-fried Wah with refried black beans, peas, plantains, and a spicy sauce. Common accompaniments include rice or Uniw Kahi. Since it's first apparition on a table, it has become a comfort food for many Chaan people, especially from the Xuman Peninsula, and has been popularized at the internationale as a standard of every Mutulese restaurants.
Tobil
Tobil (plural:Tobilob) is one of the oldest documented dish of the Mutul and seems to have existed already during the Paol'lunyu Dynasty. They were used as easily portable food, for hunting trips, and for traveling large distances, as well as supporting armies. Gods are represented eating Tobilob and they are a universal dish, served at the tables of both commoners and royalty, possibly for two or three millenium now. They are often served at feasts and festivals. Tobilob come in many shapes and forms. For example, there are the Chak Tobil who owe their name to the tomato and annatto seed that give them their distinct red color. Another colorful Tobilob is the Ek Tobil made with blue corn and chocolate.
Because of their old age, Tobilob dishes have greatly evolved sometime diverging widely from the most "basic" and famous form. They can be sweet, "Mon Tobil" prepared from sweet corn and without meat, or small and firm like the "Tz'i Ok Tobil ("Small Dog Tobil", served with meat broth to be dipped in). Tzi Tobil are in fact a popular snack as their small size and plain taste make them perfect ingredient to be dipped in other foods such as soups, sauces, or beans.
Pibil
For the verb "P'ib" ("Burried"), Pibil refers to the cooking method in which foods are wrapped generally in banana leaves, and cooked in a pit oven. Various meats are cooked this way, such as turkey (Ulum Pibil), chicken (Pol Pibil), dog (Ok Pibil), or even Ostriches (Nokmut Pibil) and Terror Birds (Sajal Pibil). Traditional Pibil involve marinating the meat in a strong acidic citrus juice, seasoning it Annatto seeds, and then roasting the meat while it is wrapped in banana leaf.
It is usually eaten with side dishes such as rice, refried black beans and fake Ochranese pepper.
Pok Chuk
Another common method to prepare poultry, especially in the provinces of the Xuman Peninsula like the Yajawil of Ekab, it the Pok Chuk ("Toasted and grilled"). The meat is prepared in citrus marinade and is then cooked over a grill. It's served accompanied with rices, fried black beans, and seasoned with fresh Bitter orange juice. It is often accompanied by a sauce called X'nipek (dog nostril) in Etaan.
Alaxax Pech
The Alaxax Pech (Mutli: Orange Duck) is a speciality of the Mutulese cuisine consisting of roasted or braised duck prepared with an alcoholic beverage like Balché and a special sauce made from chili, bitter orange, green lemons, and other spices such as cinnamon and anise. It is a popular and common example of Mutulese "High Cuisine" and has a long history dating back to the early days of the Mutulese expansion across the Makrian and Vespanian Oceans.
At a private table, it is popularly served with white rice as a side dish. But at a restaurant or during festivities, it is more commonly presented on its own.
Soups and stews
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The Mutul possess a great variety of soups and stews, with influences from both local traditions but also from Ochran. They are typically broth and "clear soups" and are lacking in diary products such as milk or creams. They can be served warm or hot, depending on the specific soup, with some being served only cold for example. They are eaten as a dish of their own, and almost never as an entrée or a dessert. One of the most famous Mutulese soup is the Katun soup made of chicken, lime juice and accompanied with tomato, bell pepper and other ingredients.
While the Divine Kingdom is mostly famed for its clear soups, it has also taken the habit of using coconut milk to thicken them slightly, creating dishes such as Coconut Green Soup inspired from Vespanian cuisine.
Sauces
Sauces are a common ingredient in Mutulese cuisine, served as a condiment, stirred into soups and stews, or incorporated into tobil fillings. They may be raw or cooked, and are generally served at room temperature.
Many dishes are defined by their sauces and the chiles those sauces contain (which are usually very spicy), rather than the meat or vegetable that the sauce covers. For example, corn soups are classified as "red", "white", "black", "yellow" or "green" depending on the chile sauce used or omitted. Popular sauces include the X'nipek, made from acidic citruce juice, tomatoes, cinnamon, and allspice.
Another common condiment is the Chak Kutamik,lit. "red sauce". It's a type of spicy red sauce made of red tomatoes grounded with chile, salt, lime, and pepper to taste. It has many sub-types depending on its use: as a cooking sauce in which the ingredients are cooked and then ground, as a roasting sauce to be used on the zemet, or simply grounded directly with raw elements, ready to eat. A blender can be used for the grinding process. After the sauce is prepared, it can be cooked again in a pan with little oil.
Also an example of the color-based naming scheme so common among Mutuleses dishes, the Yax Kutamik (lit. "green" or "blue" sauce) is another type of spicy, but green, sauce based on small tomatoes and green chili peppers. Like its red brethren it can be used for cooking, roasting, filling, or as condiment for raw aliments.
Kaji
Kaji or Kahi, more commonly known as "Mutulese Curry", is a term that has come to be used for a number of sometime quite dissimilar sauces and marinades from the Divine Kingdom. Generally, a Kaji sauce contains a fruit, such as Uniw, nut, one or more types of chili pepper, and such spice as black pepper, cinnamon, or cumin. The recipe can become very complex and involve as many as fourty ingredients, grouped into five distinct classes: hot (chili), sour (tomatillo), sweet (fruit and sugar), spice and thick (seed, nut).
Kaji generally present itself for sale in the form of a powder or paste that's the result of an extremely laborious roasting and grinding process which explains why many families have their own varieties of curry passed down for generations, with their preparation reserved for special events in large batches.
Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Chocolate
Sah
Sah, also called "Sa" or "Saj" depending on the pronounciation, is a traditional hot corn- and juch'ul-based beverage. The traditional recipe include mixing the juch'ul (maize dough) with water, unrefined cane sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and optional chocolate or fruit (like pineapple). The mixture is blended and heated before serving. More specifically, it is made by toasting the dough on a griddle, then adding water that was boiled with cinnamon sticks. The resulting blends vary in texture, ranging from a porridge to a very thin, liquid consistency.
A very old recipe, Sah knows a multiple of variants. Most depend on which spices and fruits are used for flavor, but it is not rare to see the juch'ul replaced with Ch'aj, rice, or some other cereal. Ground nuts, orange zest, and egg can also be employed to thicken and enrich the drink. Even the water can be replaced by Coconut milk. Adding Chocolate to the Sah is a very popular variant.
It is traditionally served in the morning as a simple breakfast or as a late afternoon snack. It can be found as a street food in every city of the Mutul without difficulty.
Keyem
prepared with boiled cornmeal and water in its most basic form, Keyem is the name of both fermented corn dough and the drink made from it. Other ingredients may be added to it, such as cocoa. It's a thirst-quencher drunk throughout the day or used as provisions for long journeys as it does not go bad easily. It as a special cultural status in the Divine Kingdom, as it is very cheap, high in calories, and drinking large quantities of it isn't associated with any sin such as gluttony, making it the perfect food for poor workers. It also has a role in traditional medecine, where it is used as a cataplasm against wound infections, and in religious ceremonies, as it's a common offering to the gods.
Today Keyem is very rarely prepared from just fermented corn dough and water. Cacao is almost always added to it, unsweetened. Salts and peppers are also very commonly added to the basic preparation as well as fruits like papaya or its grinded seeds. Various provinces of the Divine Kingdom consume Keyem differently, such as the Yokot'anob who prepare four different types of the drink, to the Mam who often stop at midday to take a bite of Smoke pepper while drinking Keyem, to quench the spicy taste of the pepper with the freshness and smoothness of the cold corn-based drink.
Ch'aj
Ch'aj is roasted ground maize, which is then mixed with a combination of cocoa, agave, cinnamon, chia seeds, vanilla, or other spices. The resulting powder is then used as a nutrient-dense ingredient to make different foods, such as cereals, baked goods, waj, and beverages. It is especially popular in the eastern regions of the Mutul.
Depending on the type of Ch'aj and the quality of its ingredients, pinole can be high in key vitamins and nutrients, including protein, amino acids, fiber, and antioxidants. Due to the large amount of fiber and the slow digestion of the maize, Ch'aj also has a very high satiety effect, leaving those who consume it feeling full for a longer period of time.
The Ch'aj found in rural markets is generally made by hand and sold as a powder in burlap pouches. A sugar-heavy, mass-market version can also sometimes be found in Rezeses supermarkets and in other countries where Mutuleses food stores can be found. If unsweetened, it is rather bitter. The drink usually has a rough, gritty texture. It is traditionally served out of a gourd made of the shell of the jicaro fruit but nowadays it is only done so in tourist attractions.
Sumukah
Sumukah (lit. "Tasty Water" in Mutli), are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water and usually include jelly-like ingredients. They are commonly sold by street vendors as refreshments. As a result Sumukahob are not a specific drink, but a class of beverages sold by street vendors, also they have, since the 20th century, become popular in restaurants year-round as well. There is no set recipe, and the exact flavor or taste of the drink is left to the maker. They are, however, always served fresh and cold.
Alcoholic Beverages
Balché
Balché is a mildly intoxicating beverage that is very popular in the Mutul. The drink is made from the bark of a leguminous tree, the liliac tree, which is soaked in honey and water, and fermented. Since the majority of the beverage's fermentable sugar is derived from honey, Balché is often considered to be a form of Mead, although it is culturally closer to beer.
Rum
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels.
Rum was first brought to Mocapaha and Southern Belfras by the Latins, alongside sugarcane. The secret of its production then spread to the Xuman Peninsula and then rest of the Mutul. When Mutuleses traders reached Ochran and the Vespanian Ocean, they also discovered other manner to distill sugarcane into alcoholic beverages. All of these traditions influenced the modern "Mutulese Rum", which was for all of the duration of the Mutulese Empire, the first and foremost alcoholic beverage taken on long-range expeditions to create Grog by diluting the rum with water and mixing the result with lemon or sour orange juice.
Dividing rum into meaningful groupings is complicated because no single standard exists for what constitutes rum. Instead, rum is defined by the varying rules and laws of the nations producing the spirit. In the Mutul there is a eight-month minimum ageing requirement, and a classification that distinguish between "molasse" Rum, which are often on the stronger side, and "cane juice" Rum, which retain a greater amount of the original flavor of the sugar cane and are generally more expensive. The number of distillations used to produce the liquor is also used as a distinguishing factor in the official convention. The Mutulese classification does not talk of Flavored rums nor of spiced rums because flavoring the beverage with fruits and spices at the same time is the norm in the Divine Kingdom rather than the exception.
Patpach'
Patpach' is a fermented beverage made from the peel and the rind of pineapples, and is sweetened either with piloncillo or brown sugar, seasoned with powdered cinnamon, and served cold. Despite its low alcoholic content (2%), Mutuleses authorities still classify it as an alcoholic beverages with the corresponding regulations on its production.