What are Guinnea Pigs?
Guinea pigs might well be the gentlest of all pets. Happiest in small groups, these rodents are delicate but reasonably easy to care for. Guinea pigs, also known as “cavies,” are rotund rodents from South America.
They are affectionate and gentle, and well-suited for households with children. However, as true herbivores that are very low on the food chain, they should be kept away from dogs, cats, ferrets, and rats. Also, they cannot jump more than a couple inches into the air. Make sure they are not in danger of falling off the edges of tables, beds, stairways, or other hazards.
Do people really eat Guinnea Pig?
You may best know the guinea pig as a nervous little pet that lives in a cage and eats alfalfa pellets.
"Like oh my god, I cannot believe they were actually eating it" - Becky, 22, Wisconsin, US.
South American restaurants on both coasts seem to be pushing the trend, answering to demand mostly from Andean expats for what is considered a fine and valuable food in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. Middle-class foodies with a taste for exotic delicacies are also ordering, photographing and blogging about guinea pig. The animals — called cuyes in Spanish — are usually cooked whole, often grilled, sometimes deep fried. Many diners eat every last morsel, literally from head to toe.
Why should i try Guinnea pig?
The advantages of Guinnea Pig meat are plentiful. For example:
- Instantly become more open-minded
- Higher protein to fat ratio than chicken
- Rich concentration of Omega-3
- 30g of Vitamin B, C, D, B12, E29, E98 per gram of meat (wow!)
- Anti-oxidant and prevents hair loss
- Very ecological friendly, 1kg of Guinnea Pig does not require water!
I am ready, where do i start?
If you are ready to cook your first Guinea Pig, here is the recipe.
- guinea pig, de-haired, gutted, and cleaned
- 1/2 c. flour
- 1/4 - 1/2 t. ground cumin
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 c. oil
- Pat dry the skin of the guinea pig and rub in the cumin, salt, and pepper. Preheat oil. Dust the carcass with the flour and place it on its back in the oil, turning to cook both sides. Alternately, the guinea pig can be cut and fried in quarters.
- Serve with boiled potato or boiled manioc root, and a salad of cut tomatoes and slivered onions bathed in lime juice and a bit of salt. Have cold beer on hand