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
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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 came across your website about 9 yrs ago when got married and moved to Missouri from NYC where I was born and raised on my moms Ecuadorian food. So I was really happy to come across your site. I think you have great recipes, easy to follow, And I like your other recipes too. I think its neat thing you do :) Thanks for being around so many years!
Hi Layla! I´just moved back to the States after living in Ecuador for a year and I was hoping you could post recipe for sambo de dulce! Since sambos aren´t readily accessible in North America, what squash would be a good substitute?? Muchas gracias:)
Hi Anna – Sambo is more similar to zucchini – at least in savory dishes. I do have a recipe for dulce de zapallo, which is very similar but uses a harder squash (like zapallo) – in the US I’ve tried it with a variety of different types of squash: butternut, acorn, pumpkin, kabocha. My favorite so far for the dulce is butternut (acorn is my least favorite for this type of dish).
Laylita, yesterday, I cooked “Chaulafan” following your recipe. I did some minor changes due to lack of two ingredients. I used turkey leftover from NYE in lieu of chicken, and no raisings. OMG, it is delicious, much better than the Chinese fried rice served in California, or, Mexicali. My wife (Mexican descendent) tried, and she was amazed. I am new to your website, I noticed that you were born in Loja. I am a descendent from “Lojanos”; I am glad you are sharing Ecuadorian dishes, Thank you. All the best !
Hi William – Thank you for your comment, I’m so glad that you and your wife enjoyed the chaulafan! Saludos!
Hi Laylita!
My husband and I spent a few months in Ecuador and bought some achiote seeds. I’ve seen that you are supposed to boil them in oil to get the color out but I am wondering if the seeds can’t be ground into powder. I have a spice/ coffee grinder. I don’t ever see grinding them as an option.
Hi Valerie – Yes, you can grind them into powder. Also in addition to simmering them in oil, you can also just infuse them into oil. Another option is to similar them in a small amount of water, then strain and reduce the water mix, it will start to thicken and you’ll a pure achiote essence paste without oil.
Hi Laylita! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and talent! I especially appreciate that you use autenthic ingredients – my husband can’t have salt in his diet so any recipe based on Maggi or bouillon cubes for flavour is out of the question! I simply omit the salt in your recipes and we can enjoy tasty, delicious, flavourful dishes. I’ve tried different recipes so far and the pescado encocado is now my favourite fish recipe. Thanks again and I’m looking forward to many more recipes.
Thanks so much for sharing your passion and knowledge, it means a lot for people like us who are far far away. It’s so very well thought, specially the substitutes than can be used when original ingredients may not be available. Thanks for your incredible work!
You recipes are unreal, I have enjoyed them for the longest and have introduced them to friends and family, there is always a “wow, this taste really different and tasteful”. What this country needs is someone like you to start a meal to deliver company with your recipes and your condiments so everyone can enjoy that food flavor that is irreplaceable, unlike some of those companies that are selling blend meals with no flavor whatsoever. I will be willing to help if you would ever consider this challenge.
Hi Laylita.
I’ve discovered your website by chance and I’m your fan #1 since then. The food recipes are just lovely!
I’m from Ecuador,and been living in London for the past 20 years, as much I miss mi mom’s cooking which is really nice by the way, I always try to cook something that brings memories back from when I was living in Ecuador.
Thanks again for sharing your excellent culinary skills-Regards
Victor C
I totally love to see your recipes. I’m from Machala, El Oro Ecuador and I my parents are from Piñas. I came to Canada when I was 21years old now I have a big family of 5 with my Panamenian husband. I really enjoy get my days off and look at ur recipes to have a quality time with my daughter. Since I came to Canada i been looking to your website to learn and brush my cooking skills with the Ecuadorian flavour.
Every time I check your website to keep my Ecuadorian roots plus my family love Ecuadorian food. Thank you so much for putting so much love in your recipes and share with everybody. Trust me I had done some many of your recipesiver the time and I remember the 1st time when I look at your website I was craving Ecuadorian food. Once again Laylita thank you so much
Sincerely Jessy.Feijoo
My Mom and her 9 siblings were born in/near Quito and I love it. We live an hour north of SF in Sonoma County (Santa Rosa). My aunt does most of the authentic cooking because Grandma lived with her the longest. I found your site because I wanted to see the general recipe for chifles. And now I’ve shared your site with my Mom and aunts. Me encanta encontrar a otras Ecuatorianas!! ~ Steph