During a recent visit to the rural community of Firmeza, in the mountains of Santiago de Cuba, Priest Leandro NaunHung, along with other members of his church, brought a message of faith, solidarity, and hope to the residents.
During the day, in addition to celebrating a mass and distributing donations of food and clothing, the priest collaborated with the locals to create recipes based on ingredients that are not widely known on the island but are commonly consumed in other cultures, such as nopal and banana flower. They prepared a large lunch for all the neighbors.
"Vegetarians by medical prescription!" joked NaunHung while teaching the community to cook these foods, which were prepared over wood fires due to the lack of basic resources such as gas, electricity, or charcoal in that very impoverished region of Cuba.
Although nopal is a common ingredient in Mexican cuisine, it is practically unknown on the island. This culinary experience was a valuable lesson on how to diversify the diet in times of scarcity.
However, the priest warned that one of the drawbacks of the recipe is that it requires a large amount of cooking oil, a product that is very difficult to obtain in the country.
This activity is part of Father NaunHung's efforts to help rural communities face the severe food crisis in Cuba.
This is not the first time that the parish priest shares practical solutions with Cubans for use in kitchens. Recently, he taught how to make a Creole version of "sampa," a long-lasting food made from grains and honey that can be kept in good condition for over 10 years.
The banana flower soup with nopal, made by the parish priest NaunHung, was an excuse to celebrate the gathering, which not only strengthens the community spirit but also provides emotional support amid difficulties.
The priest has demonstrated a deep commitment to the rural communities of Santiago de Cuba. He uses his social media to spread creative ideas that help the residents improve their quality of life.
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