Amid the energy crisis affecting Cuba, a Catholic priest from Santiago de Cuba shared a traditional method for preserving food on social media, providing a practical alternative to the frequent blackouts that complicate daily life.
Father Leandro NaunHung, who has repeatedly shared valuable tools to mitigate the economic crisis, posted a video on Facebook demonstrating how to use salt to preserve vegetables as a solution to the lack of refrigerators and frequent power outages on the island.
"Forget about using refrigerators to preserve food. We're still ahead of the times," pointed out the parish priest.
On this occasion, the priest received assistance from two parishioners, who demonstrated in a pedagogical manner how to coat eggplants with salt to prevent them from spoiling, emphasizing that this method extends their shelf life for several days.
The process involves generously salting the eggplants to expel their internal moisture and ensure their preservation. They are then placed in glass jars covered with fabric and turned upside down to facilitate drainage.
However, not everything is straightforward: too much salt can make food difficult to eat.
In the video, amidst jokes and experiments, the priest and his companions attempt to desalt the eggplants using warm water, acknowledging that this process requires patience and adjustments.
"We know how to salt to preserve, but we don't know how to desalinate for consumption," they reflect as they confirm that this is the best way to remove the salt.
In the midst of the demonstration, the precariousness of daily life in Cuba becomes evident: “Let’s make the most of the electricity while we have it, before they take it away from us,” they remarked, reflecting the daily challenges faced by the population due to frequent blackouts.
Finally, after several attempts, they use the eggplants as a side dish for some ribs, demonstrating that, despite the limitations, it is possible to adapt and find creative solutions to cope with scarcity.
The video, like many others shared by Priest NaunHung, is a testament to ingenuity and resilience in difficult times.
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