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
Hello, I found your interesting blog when seeking recipes using banana flour. Thank you for sharing so much. Did you ever use banana flour in your cooking?
Hello Laylita! I am an Ecuadorian-American college student in California. Your website has really helped me in cooking all my favorite Ecuadorian dishes. I haven’t really cooked that much but it really makes it easy for me to follow. Thank you so much!
Laylita,
Thanks for the wonderful website. Do you have a recipe for Hayacas Ecuatorianas? I can’t find a recipe anywhere!
Hola Layla!
This is seriously the most amazing food blog ever! For me, at least. I was also born in Ecuador (Manta and then moved to Quito) and am now living in the States. However, my parents, being Chinese, never cooked Ecuadorian food so I never learned. I was looking for a recipe to make mote since I got a bag from last visit and came across your blog.
The photos are beautiful and evoke the wonderful smells and textures of all the yummy food I miss! I’m definitely going to try your recipes.
Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into this blog.
Hello! Thanks for the great recipes. I am living in Vilca, and so glad to find you site.
Lived in Manta and we ate Aji picante there with lunch, or ceviche with plantains, but I
cannot find the recipe. Do you have a recipe for Aji, or picante with tree tomatoes?
Here is the recipe for tree tomato aji: https://www.laylita.com/recipes/2008/03/10/tree-tomato-aji/
Que Chévere! I adore your site. You do have the best pictures and recipes out there. I lived mostly in la costa, particularly Guayaquil and Guasmo, for a few years. I especially love soups with yucca or verdes. I try to shop my local Latino markets for Ecuadorian food but really needed some of these wonderful recipes to bring back the memories. For years I’ve tried to remember how to make Colada or Quaker but never could get it right. Layla please keep up this good work, y Buen Provecho.
Hey Layla,
My 16 year old daughter arrived in Córdoba Argentina three weeks ago for a 1 year exchange with Rotary International. While her stomach is adjusting from a mainly vegetable and fruit diet, (Ontario style) to the more robust fare of Argentina – my own stomach growls as she describes the empanadas, asado and other culinary delights she is discovering.
I know your site will be a fabulous source as I try and sample (vicariously) some of the tastes of South America she will be exposed to.
Just off to buy some tamarillos at our local grocery store. We are blessed here with a truly international selection of foodstuffs in our rural supermarket thanks to our seasonal friends who come and help at harvest time.
Hi Laylita – I love your blog and you’ve single-handedly ‘hooked’ me into discovering the food and flavors of South America. I’m a former winemaker and spend most of my cooking time in the French/Italian vein. My sons live in Seattle and we visit frequently. During our last trip we tried your Peruvian goat stew recipe which was a gigantic hit. It also led us to the little Latin American store across from Pike’s Market which supplied us with the piloncillo, chicha, and achiote called for in the recipe.
We are visiting Seattle again the first week in September and I wanted to ask if you could recommend any Latin American restaurants.
Thanks again for providing these great recipes. We are looking forward to trying many more.
Hi Laylita, I made your pan de yucca yesterday and it came out perfect! My boyfriend is from Ecuador and we travel there frequently. I always look forward to the pan de yucca in his country. But, with your recipe I can have it everyday! Thank you for posting your recipes. I’m going to try your empanada de viento recipe today.
Hi Laylita, thanks a lot for your recipes and the way you made it, make it easy. I’m from Ecuador living in Switzerland and is nice to try to cook something from my country, Thanks a lot one more time to take your time and share with us. I saw the pictures of your family thanks for sharing that with us.
thanks one more time