My name is Layla Pujol, my family and friends call me Laylita. I was born in Vilcabamba, Ecuador and currently live in Luxembourg. I spent several years in the US, both in Austin and in Seattle, and our family recently moved to Europe. My recipes are inspired mainly by traditional Ecuadorian dishes that I grew up eating in Ecuador. However, my love of food – and therefore the recipes posted here – go beyond Ecuador and include anything from Latin America, my mom’s spicy New Mexican cooking, my grandmother’s homemade Southwestern dishes and Texas style BBQ, my husband’s (and his family’s) delicious French food, new dishes introduced by my amazing group of international friends, and of course the great variety of seafood, vegetables and fruits available in the Pacific Northwest.
I am currently working on my first cookbook, which will focus on delicious Ecuadorian recipes (adapted to my style, of course!).
The longer version of my story
My approach to cooking and general instructions for using this site
Additional contact information
Photo and content use
Recipe development, product reviews, disclosure, and advertising
Privacy policy
If you have any questions or comments you can leave them in the comment section, or you can email me directly layla at laylita dot com
Hi Laylita;
I found your website today I’m so delighted. Congratulations!
We have the same passion for food…I love to cook, read cookbooks, find fantastic food markets and Restaurants in Miami (where I live at the moment) and around the World… Like you I have a Latin background. I design cake and of course love to bake. I have a website but I never published. I have it just for my friends.
I wish you all the best with this website and consider me a follower.
Best Regards,
Gia
Hi Laylita,
I know you have heard this over and over again, but way to go with this website. The pictures are fantastic!
I am originally from Ecuador but moved to the US when I was 14 and never really learned to cook any Ecuadorian food.
My hubby is greek and this year I have invited the greeks and ecuadorians for Christmas dinner. I’m trying to keep it as authentic as possible. I’m planning on making turkey, ceviche and some sort of rice. I know this last minute but any ideas on a good rice recipe?
Thanks for sharing all these great recipes!
I have been living outside my beloved Ecuador for the last 10 years (currently in the UK). Looking at the pictures and recipes in your blog warmed up my soul in these cold winter days. I am SOOOOO going to try a few of them, starting with the encebollado.
Laylita!!
I love your site!
love it love it love it
Hi Laylita – What a fab site! I was just doing a quick search for ceviche for some of my friends here in Ireland (I’ve done my version a few times and they loved it so I’ve told them to go make it their own!) and this is by far the best site I’ve come across for Ecuadorian food!
It’s bringing back so many memories of my time there in Bahia de Caraquez and I’m seriously craving chifles and patacones as I look out at the grey Irish skies! I keep searching for platain when I go to the supermarket but I’m afraid we;re just too obcessed with potatos to have much demand for them outside of Dublin!
Well as soon as I get my hands on some I’ll be back here for inspiration and in the mean time I’m starving!! I’ll have to settle for some tea and brown bread for now!
Keep up the most excellent work!
Rose
This is the best website for authentic Ecuadorian food I have found, thank you for making this “database” of the best recipes of one of the best cuisines in the world!!!, I am so excited about having stumbled upon it, it also has great recipes from Loja, it’s just great! thank you!
Sus recetas me parecen muy sabrosas, soy fan de la quinoa y sus recetas meparecen las mejores.
Dios le siga bendiciendo
Laylita:
In searching the internet and trying to find some Ecuadorian recipes, I found your website and it is indeed marvelous!! Gracis!
I again think that your website is perfect and thank you for all the recipes. My husband and I have just moved from Canada to Ecuador and have been enjoying the food and looking for cookbooks for recipes for the delicious salads and ceviches that we have tried.
I will definitely be trying some of the recipes soon and thank you for taking the time to share these recipes.
The instructions are great for each recipe and you should not be able to go wrong.
Saludos from Bahia de Caraquez
Deborah
Hi Layla,
I just got married & am not a great cook to say the least. I am always looking for recipes online to cook for dinner but have a hard time following the recipes since a lot of them have no pictures so I was pleasantly surprised to find your site through google. All the food featured on your site looks so delicious & amazing. I cannot wait try all of your recipes. The best part about your site are the pictures you take of your process. It is unbelievably helpful to me. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your recipes. I look forward to discover new dishes to cook from your site =)
Many Thanks,
Cyril.
Dear Layla, what great surprise to find a recipe for Empanadas de Viento they look exactly how my
mother used to make I`m from Quito and I m involve with food as well I work for Alain Ducasse .
i was looking your recipes I loved them they look so Yuummy!! my kids are going to savour the Ecuadorian menu today and I agree with your son you are a good cook or I should said Chef
Congratulations and thanks for bring me good memories of my chidhood
Henry Aguilar.
God bless you