Our lesson this week was a great example of how ideas travel around the world. Arroz chaufa from Peru takes its inspiration from Chinese fried rice. The vegetarian version we made together featured ají panca, a mild Peruvian red pepper that gives the dish a bold, fruity flavor.
In the classroom the first graders read a Peruvian folktale, Un Lazo a la Luna (Moon Rope). In the kitchen, they got to work cracking and whisking eggs, chopping red bell peppers, snipping green onions, and measuring out soy sauce and sesame oil.
This is a simple yet satisfying dish that is a great way to turn cold leftover rice into something special. We can all continue in the make-it-your-own tradition by adding our favorite vegetables, protein, or seasoning.
