Peruvian huacatay

The sauce is prepared with huacatay, a leafy green herb native to the Andes mountains, which is found growing wild in many fields and small farms. It is not formally cultivated, because it is self-propagating and used by the locals in their condiments. It is similar to the paico (or epazote) plant, which is used in sopa de paico, or paico soup. In Peru and other Latin American countries, the huacatay leaves are crushed using a fulling mill, a stone tool that serves as a traditional blender. This grinds the leaves more coarsely than a modern blender would, but allows greater absorption of flavor. The sauce is easy to prepare and typically takes 15–30 minutes to make. It is traditionally used in the preparation of chicken parties or barbecues, but many households prepare it on a regular basis. ==References==