Indio viejo

Indio viejo, which means ‘old Indian’ in Spanish, is a traditional dish from Nicaragua. It is a stew or thick soup that is made with corn and meat previously shredded. The ingredients are native to the region, like corn and beef. The stew is thick and hearty and it is a perfect comfort food for a chilly winter day.

Indio viejo is served throughout Nicaragua. Some states give it a different name, but the ingredients are the same.

It is said that the name of this dish comes from the lie of an indigenous leader to two Spaniards who passed through a tribe located in Ometepe.

The Europeans saw the indigenous eating and when asked what they were having, one replied that he was enjoying an old Indian. They called it that because it was made of one of the oldest members of the tribe who had just died.

The Spaniards, in the end, decided not to try the dish. But, the truth behind this legend, is that the leader of the tribe told that lie because he did not want to share the food.