Sandsteak
Sandsteak is a plant-based food eaten by nomadic peoples in desert regions of central Ororr and western Otekahré.
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Sandsteak is prepared from the bracteate virispurge cactus, a globular virid plant found in very arid climates.
Preparation
Like most virid plants it is poisonous, particularly when immature. To prepare as food, larger plants are sliced horizontally into “steaks”. The outer pigmented rind is removed leaving the pale, juicy pulp. This is still toxic, so traditionally sandsteaks are buried in hot clean sand, with the salt and heat drawing out the moisture and toxins. The process takes a week or more depending on temperature. Thereafter the mummified sandsteaks can be brushed off and stored.
When cooked in water they have a spongy, meaty texture, rich with fibre and proteins but lacking flavour. To make them more palatable they are cooked in a soup or stew with spices. They are commonly added to meat dishes to stretch limited supplies of meat.