Belizean Cow Foot Soup Recipe

Greetings, culinary aficionados! Belize News Post is here to guide you through another authentic Belizean recipe—Cow Foot Soup. This dish is a staple in inland towns like Belmopan and San Ignacio, where it’s often enjoyed during family gatherings and local festivities. Cow foot soup is also found in other Caribbean countries like Jamaica. Some will refer to “cow foot” as “cow’s trotters.”

Prep Time: Approximately 20 minutes

Cook Time: Approximately 2-3 hours

Note: The cooking time may vary depending on the tenderness of the cow foot and the desired consistency of the soup. It’s important to simmer the soup until the cow foot is tender and the flavors have melded together, which may take longer than 2-3 hours in some cases.

Belizean Cow Foot Soup Recipe Ingredients:

• 2 pounds cow foot, cleaned and cut into small pieces
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional, for heat)
• 6 cups water
• 2 tablespoons oil

Optional ingredients:

• 1-inch piece of ginger, grated
• 1 tbsp red recado (red achiote paste), some substitute paprika (but this is not at all the same)
• 1/2 pound of beef tripe
• 5 to 7 okra chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon of oregano

Note: These optional ingredients are common to cow foot and like many Belize food recipes the ingredients are subject to seasons and personal taste.

Cow Foot Soup Recipe Instructions:

1. Season the cow foot pieces with salt and pepper to taste. It is best to allow the cow foot to rest in the seasonings as long as you can.
2. In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the cow foot pieces and cook until browned on all sides. Remove the cow foot from the pot and set aside.
3. In the same pot, add the onions and garlic. Sauté until the onions are translucent.
4. Add the tomato paste, thyme, paprika, black pepper, recado, and salt to the pot. Stir well to combine.
5. Add the cow foot back to the pot, along with the carrots, potatoes, bell pepper, and tomatoes. Stir to coat the ingredients with the tomato paste mixture.
6. Pour in the water and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 2-3 hours, or until the cow foot is tender and the flavors have melded together.
7. If desired, add the scotch bonnet pepper whole to the pot for added heat. Remove it before serving if you prefer less spiciness. The heat will increase the longer the pepper is in the broth.
8. Serve the cow foot soup hot, garnished with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Enjoy!

Flavor Variations

For a different twist, you can add some okra or yams to the soup for extra texture and flavor. Belizean Cow Foot Soup recipes vary by taste. In Belize, some people think tripe and okra are too slimy. To each their own.

Cooking Cow Foot Soup Tips

• Many use a slow cooker or crock pot and increase the cook times up to 8 hours or even over night.
• If you are in a hurry a pressure cooker can speed up the cooking times.
• Some prefer to skim excess fats from the broth, we would not call that “traditional” but it may be a healthy choice.

Belizean Cow Foot Soup Estimated Nutritional Information:

Calories: Approximately 300-350 calories

Fat: Approximately 10-15 grams

Protein: Approximately 20-25 grams

Carbohydrates: Approximately 30-35 grams

Fiber: Approximately 5-7 grams

Sodium: Approximately 800-1000 milligrams

Engage With Us!

Have you tried making Belizean Cow Foot Soup at home? We’d love to hear your thoughts, variations, or any family secrets you’d like to share. Leave your comments below! Get an update when we post a new recipe by subscribing.

Thank you for joining us on this culinary journey through Belize. Stay tuned for more authentic Belizean recipes, and don’t forget to share your Cow Foot Soup experiences with us!