That designation became known at the end of 2023 and went viral in Nicaragua in the first days of 2024. The indio viejo, a delicious Nicaraguan dish, occupies the second position worldwide in the “Stews” category of the TasteAtlas Awards 23/24.
TasteAtlas is a flavor encyclopedia, a global atlas of traditional dishes, local ingredients and authentic restaurants. It has catalogued more than 10,000 foods and drinks, “and there are still tens of thousands left to research and map,” it says on its website.
The platform, launched in 2018 and created by Croatian journalist and entrepreneur Matija Babic, is powered by food experts and diners themselves.
La Nicaraguan delight obtained a score of 4.58, after the Phanaeng Curry from Thailand, and ahead of the Squared from Japan, legim from Haiti and bo kho from Vietnam.
About indio viejo, TasteAtlas writes that it is a Nicaraguan dish made with vegetables such as garlic, onion, bell pepper, and tomato. “Tortillas soaked in water are first ground into a dough; then the meat is shredded and fried with vegetables, tortilla dough, and achiote paste.
When all of these components are combined, this hearty stew is created with a name that can be translated as old Indian. The dish dates back to pre-Columbian Nicaragua, when it was originally made with Central American animals, though beef is the preferred choice today.
It is usually served with fried plantains, rice, tortillas and coleslaw.
TasteAtlas Awards 23/24, includes the World's 100 Best Dishes; World's 100 Best Cuisines; World's 100 Best Cheeses; World's Best Food Cities and Regions; Best Foods by Category (over 60 categories); World's Most Iconic Food Places; and World's Most Legendary Cookbooks.
