Sancocho

Sancocho is a traditional soup (often considered a stew) in several Spanish and Latin American cuisines. Variations represent popular national dishes in the Canary Islands of Spain, Colombia, Panama, Argentina, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. It usually consists of large pieces of meat and vegetables served in a broth. Similar dishes exist in other countries, such as Bouillon in Haiti.

In the Canary Islands of Spain, the dish is usually made with fish. The fish is usually cooked whole. It is called Sancocho Canario and is usually eaten with gofio. Sancocho in Latin America, especially the Caribbean, evolved from both Puchero Canario and Sancocho of the Canary Islands, which were brought with "Canarios" -- Canary Islanders who emigrated to Latin America.

In the Caribbean, Sancocho is considered a fairly rustic dish. Ingredients usually include chicken, fish, plantains, yuca, cilantro , yams, corn, and potatoes. Sancocho made with chicken is called Sancocho de gallina.

In Colombia, Sancocho is made with almost any kind of meat, along with large pieces of plantain, potato, yuca and/or other vegetables depending on the region.

In the Dominican Republic, there is a variant called Sancocho cruzado or Sancocho de siete carnes which includes chicken, beef and pork along with other meats. "Sancocho de siete carnes" means "Seven meat Sancocho," and represents the seven islands of the Canary Islands. In the Dominican republic, Longaniza (a type of pork sausage) is also used. Sancocho de gallina is common as well, often made for special occasions or on weekends.

In Costa Rica, there is a similar dish, although it is called olla carne (meat pot).

Biggest stew

On September 15, 2007, chefs from Caracas, Venezuela broke the Guinness World Record for the largest bowl of stew by serving 15,000 litres of Sancocho, enough to feed 70,000 people. It cooked for 13 hours in a five meter-high pot, prepared by 100 assistants. It used 7,000 kilograms of vegetables and 5,000 kilograms of meat. It broke the old record, held by Mexico and set in July of 2007.