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,
This is a great blog! I’m very excited to try out some of these recipes. I have been exposed to a lot of Panamanian food (my hubby’s background) and have been cooking a few Panamanian dishes myself but definitely looking forward to trying some Ecuadorian recipes!
Wish me luck :)
Cynthia
Thank you for your website and all the recipes you are sharing with us. I have a question if I want to make the naranjilla juice, where would I find that fruit. I live in Houston, Texas.
Hi Vilma – I’ve never seen them fresh in the US, but the Latin grocery stores (including Fiesta), sell frozen pulp of naranjilla and sometimes even the frozen whole fruits. To make the juice with the frozen pulp just mix or blend with water and sugar to taste. For the fresh or frozen whole fruit you can blend the entire fruit with water and sugar or panela, and then strain it.
Laylita, I can not express how much I enjoy your blog and your delicious recipes. I am in DESPERATE need of a recipe. I once tasted. So I am wishing you can magically wave a wand and I can bake it.. Its a mexican chocolate mousse cake/ tort I know they used Abuelita chocolate bar and coconut liquor filled with mousse and covered with chocolate whipped cream. please let me know of any sort of heavenly cake like this.
Hi Angelica – omg, that sounds amazing! Now I really want it also! I will ask one of my Mexican friends if they known how to make it.
hola querida Layla !!
te felicito por todo tu bello trabajo que lindo ver todas las recetas y bellas cosas que recopilas de la cultura culinaria de nuestro bello Ecuador.
Aprovecho esta oportunidad para agradecerte por todo tu ayuda y apoyo que me diste cuando sali de reina del colegio una pobre nina de 12 anos …. sin saber en que me metia… mil gracias por todo.
El amor y aprecio que tengo para toda tu familia es indescriptible solo puedo decir que son como famillia para mi.
mucho amor y paz en este fin de ano 2012
eva
Hola Evita – Jajaja esos tiempos de reina y vestidos, solo en Ecuador! Ahora son para el recuerdo! Ustedes tambien son como familia para nosotros, no se si leiste la receta del majado de verde, pero esa receta siempre me recuerda a tu papi porque recuerdo que el lo preparaba para el desayuno cuando nos quedabamos a dormir en tu casa! Un abrazo a la distancia! Feliz navidad y tengas un lindo 2013!
Hi Laylita!
I am from Ecuador, and currently I am living in Indiana, USA. I liked your blog. Thank you for sharing with others all our Ecuadorian food. I am going to prepare some Yapingachos for Christmas. Your blog was very helpful!
Hello Laylita,
I love your blog and recently began my own. I just read your comments about copyright of usage of your photos and wanted to ask permission. I just posted about a recipe (fritada or mixturiado) and used a few pictures. If you woud like for me to withdraw them, please let me know. Thank you!
Hi Marina – As long as you are giving credit and linking back to the source, then it’s fine, no need to take them down. Thank you!
Can’t remember how I found your site, but I love it. I’ve made several of your recipes and I’m still amazed at how easy the empanada dough is. Thanks for all love you put into this site, we’re having Turkey empandas for our Christmas dinner this year.
Laylita, muchas gracias por este blog!! Vivo en USA desde hace muchos años y todavÃa extraño mi comida ecuatoriana. Que alegrÃa haberlo encontrado!
Awesome recipes easy and it tastes like home. Thank you, I love it
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW DELIGHTFUL IT IS TO PREPARE ALL THOSE INCREDIBLE RECIPES THAT I GREW UP WITH. I LIVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND THANKS TO YOUR WEBSITE I AM NOW COOKING HORNADO AND EMPANADAS AND WOW, WHAT GREAT FUN, THANKS!!!!