Chipa so'o


The Chipa so'o is a cake from Paraguay and Northeast of Argentina. It can be prepared in many different ways.
As with most Guaranis cuisine, the "chipa so'o" has many calories. According to Margarita Miró Ibars, who studies Paraguayan culinary anthropology, the different kinds of chipa are part of the "Tyra", a Guarani term for food consumed to accompany the "mate cocido", milk or coffee, or prepared as a side-dish to another main course. The "mbeju" and "sopa paraguaya" are also part of the Tyra.

History

It was firstly consumed by the Guarani people who lived in the Guaraní-Jesuit Missions.

Preparation

The ingredients are pork fat, eggs, "Mar del Plata cheese", "Criollo cheese" or "Paraguay cheese", salt, corn or maize flour, starch and milk.
The pork fat is whipped until it becomes creamy and becomes much lighter in color. Then the eggs, salt and cheese are added, whipping the mixture after every addition. The preparation is mixed with the maize flour, starch and milk, producing a paste that can be kneaded with the hands.
The dough is shaped into small balls and a hole is made in them with the thumb. The hole is filled with a mix of chopped meat and eggs. Afterwards, the ball is closed and given form like a small cake about 7 centimeters in diameter.
The cakes are put on a buttered oven tray, and are painted with milk to give them a nicer color. They are cooked in the oven at for about 20 minutes.