Pira Caldo – Fish Soup
Some of the world's most beautiful rivers can be found in Paraguay. There are several explanations for the name "Paraguay," all of which involve water (from "born of water" to "river of the Payaguas"). With a lot of water comes a lot of fish and fish dishes.
Pira Caldo, or "fish broth" in Guaraní, is probably the most delicious. It's served with succulent, locally caught fish like mandi'y and surubi. Stir in the stew of tomatoes, onions, carrots, pork fat, and spices, and you've got yourself a smoking, mouth-watering pot of Pira Caldo.
Historians believe the dish was created in response to the scarcity of food during and after the devastating Paraguayan War in the late nineteenth century. In times of peace, Pira Caldo is the favorite comfort food of the entire country, if not the entire region.
