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
I am in Canada, and I can not find naranjilla, with what can I replaced it to do la colada.Love your recipes.
Hi Alicia – You can use other fruit juices, some of my other favorites include passion fruit juice, mandarin or tangerine juice, pineapple juice, even orange juice will work.
Greetings Layla! Im Frank who was born in Quito but raised since I was six in beautiful New Jersey. I’m truly grateful that my family kept up with Ecuadorian cuisine. I truly miss the nostalgia of great food. Please, please send me an email when your recipe book comes out I can’t hardly wait! My mouth is salivating already.
Hello Laylita, I am also a Seattlite. I lived in Ecuador for 2.5 years in the early 90’s. I have been using your blog to cook my favorites for years. Encebollado, Locro de Papa, and tonight your empanada dough. Love it! You have been my go to for years.
Cheers,
Dan
Just back from Ecuador. Such a beautiful, diverse country with many exciting people. We enjoyed our food in Ecuador tasting local and Peruvian dishes. Now back home, I am eager to try many of the new found dishes. There are Peruvian restaurants in the Bay Area, but no Ecuadorian.
Laylita, I hope your cookbook comes out soon. Can’t wait.
Your recipes are incredible and every time I make one I feel like I’m back with my Ecuadorian family in Isabela! I have been waiting for your cookbook a couple years and really hope you publish because your recipes have brought me so much joy!!!!
Hi there, Layla. My name is Marlon and I’m from Loja, Ecuador, but currently living in the US. I found your website and I really love it. The recipes are amazing. I like the pictures included as well. Very happy to see this for a person from my town. My wife is American and she will love to try some of these recipes as well.
Hola Laylita,
Soy de Quito y desde que me mude hace 6 años a Estados Unidos tu blog me ha salvado de morirme de hambre muchísimas veces. Siempre he sido super carishina pero tus recetas son super claras y casi siempre me salen bien.
Tu blog me encanta por varias razones. Primero me ayuda a extrañar a mi casa y a mi familia un poquito menos. Segundo, me ayuda a impresionar a mi abuelas en nuestras video llamadas cuando le doy nuevos trucos que aprendo de tus recetas. Lo mejor de todo es que gracias a tu pagina poliglota puedo compartir nuestra tradición culinaria y cultura con mis amigos y familia de todas partes del mundo y eso me hace sentir orgullosa de ser ecuatoriana!
Espero poder comprar tu libro pronto.
Mucha suerte.
Gabriela Arevalo
Hola Laylita yo soy mexicana y estoy casada con un ecuatoriano desde hace 34 años
Vivimos en Mexico y nos encanta la cocina
Yo amo la comida ecuatoriana de todas las regiones.
Quisiera saber cuando publiques tu libro ya que tus recetas me resultan muy buenas; quisiera comprarlo
Saludos!
Hi Laylita,
My name is Carlos Quintero, originally from Quito and moved to the US some 55+ years ago. Your name reminds me of my late mother, who passed at 102. We all called her Lilita as my nieces and nephews couldn’t say abuelita and name her Lilita. But enough about me! I love…love…love your recipes which are a reminder of my mom’s cooking. I have tried some of your recipes and always end up delicious. I can’t wait ’till you publish your book. If you ever come to New Jersey, my casa es su casa.
My parents are from Cuenca and we have been in Toronto for 40 years now. Growing up I ate a lot of Ecuadorean food because it was what my parents cooked but I wanted to blend in more and not get made fun of at school so I started avoiding our traditional dishes. Now that I have a daughter of my own, I’m happy that I can find recipes to make the foods my parents and grandmother made for me and share them with her. Thank you! P.S. My mom is Lalita (Eulalia) so I tease her that this site is her secret identity!