THE 5 MOST POPULAR TYPICAL FOODS OF THE SIERRA DE ECUADOR - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The typical foods of the Sierra de Ecuador are characterized by presenting a vast variety in the way of preparation, thanks to the large number of native products and the strong Spanish influence acquired over time.

The entire region offers a wide repertoire of dishes, due to the fact that different high-quality ingredients from different areas of Ecuador are used.

In the mountain cuisine, the vast majority of typical dishes are based on beef, pork and chicken.

In addition, it is a type of cuisine that is characterized by using spices a lot, as in other regions of the South American continent.

You may also be interested in these typical foods of the coast.

The 5 main typical foods of the Sierra de Ecuador

1- Roast guinea pig

Roasted guinea pig is one of the most typical dishes, mainly during festive seasons such as Christmas.

Because it is such a popular dish, guinea pigs are raised in many rural areas in private homes or farms.

Imbabura is one of the towns where this dish is most prepared. The most widespread version is guinea pig with potatoes, but there are many different versions.

The preparation can be divided into three phases: preparing the dressing, seasoning the guinea pig and preparing the sauce. The ingredients used include onion, garlic, peanuts and spices.

2- Llapingachos

The origins of this dish date back to the era of the Incas and the Aztecs, almost 6000 years ago.

This is considered one of the most representative dishes of mountain food, not only because of the dish itself, but also because of the traditional characteristics of its preparation.

Although llapingachos are usually served as companions, they are also eaten for breakfast or as a starter.

They consist of a kind of mashed potato tortillas stuffed with cheese. The trick is in the standing time before and after mashing the potatoes, as that brings out the flavors.

At the end they go to the pan and cook on both sides until golden brown.

3- Stewed tongue

The stewed tongue, or tongue stew, is characterized as a very rich and forceful recipe.

Although it may seem difficult on the surface, it is very simple to prepare. The main ingredients are beef tongue, red wine, onions, tomatoes, carrots, and some spices.

The most important thing about the recipe is knowing how to boil, cook and clean the tongue before serving.

It should be boiled, peeled, cleaned and boiled again. The goal is to achieve a rich, intense and most nutritious stew.

4- Humitas

Humita is a widely consumed dish in almost all of South America, so the recipe varies from country to country.

The serrana version presents them as soft and moist cakes, which are prepared with baby corn and cheese cooked inside the corn cob leaf. They are usually served in the afternoon as a snack, or at breakfast.

5- fry

This dish is very popular in Ecuador when it is prepared with pork. Although it is called fried, the dish is not made from fried meat.

It is cooked in water and orange juice with cumin and more spices. When the water evaporates, the pork begins to brown on its own fat, which gives it a very intense and characteristic taste.

References

1. Ecuadorian Food - Typical and Traditional Cuisine at GoBackpacking, from gobackpacking.com
2. Food and Drink in Ecuador at Anywhere, from anywhere.com
3. 7 Foods You Need to Eat in Ecuador at 2foodtrippers, by 2foodtrippers.com
4. Regional dishes and delicacies in Ecuador at LoneyPlanet, from lonelyplanet.com
5. Cuy - A Traditional Andean Entree en Tripsavvy, from tripsavvy.com