What is the english translation for the cooking ingredient "tunta"

Question

A Bolivian recipe entitled "Chairo de Tunta" looks enticing but "tunta" is not recognized by spanishdict.com

Answer 1

A "Tunta" is a kind of potato that has been freeze dried. I very much doubt you will be able to find that sort of potato outside of Bolivia and neighboring areas!

Here's some more on tuntas.

The Spanish article is a bit more detailed, at least where Tuntas are concerned.

La tunta se obtiene congelando la papa por una noche a la intemperie en helada de invierno (Junio-Julio), al día siguiente se deshidrata presionando con los pies contra el piso (exprimiendo) y se pone al agua de rio o laguna en costales permeables de plástico, este procedimiento se realiza a la hora de ponerse el sol para mantener el color blanco; las papas normalmente son de color claro pero al contacto con los rayos solares toman el color negro.

El paso final consiste en la extracción del agua después de 15 días aproximadamente el pelado y el secado al sol. El resultado ya es la tunta, que en algunos lugares del Perú y Bolivia es conocida como chuño blanco. En el Perú también se le conoce como moraya.

 

Rough translation: Tunta is obtained by freezing the potato overnight inthe open in Wintertime. Next day it's dehidrated by pressing with the feet against the ground, and it's placed in river or pond water in permeable bags one hour before sunset, so that they maintain the white color (sunlight turns then black).

The final step is to remove them from the water after some 15 days, peeling and then sun-drying them. The result is the tunta, which in some places in Peru and Bolivia is known as "Chuño Blanco", or "Moraya".

Answer 2

I found this on Wikipedia

White chuño is obtained by "washing" the frozen potatoes. The "washing" may take various forms. In Peru, the frozen potatoes are transported to a river, and deposited in pools. In Bolivia, the potatoes are spread on blankets or straw and constantly sprayed with water to moisten them.

The final step is drying in the sun. The result is now called chuño, also known as papas secas. In Bolivia, white chuño is also called tunta. Among the varied uses of tuntas in traditional cuisine, one is as an accompaniment to Christmas celebration dishes. Called "picana", the tunta is cut in the middle, a piece of white cheese is inserted, and it is steamed.

You're quick! :-) - Gekkosan, Apr 26, 2010

Answer 3

Never hear of this before, but it seems it is a dried potatoe, only used in Bolivia.

a chuno is a freeze dried potato. once the process is complete they are good for years. This process predates the Incas. Chairo is a soup made with chuno potatoes. There is a way to make chuno potatos in your freezer. I know all this because my fathe - luiscampero, Jun 14, 2012

my father immigrated from Bolivia thanks - luiscampero, Jun 14, 2012