Here you will find my most popular traditional Ecuadorian recipes, including recipes from the different regions of Ecuador and holiday recipes. These classic Ecuadorian recipes are easy to make and most include step by step photos. This list breaks out the recipes by category to make it easier to find the recipe you need.
Ecuadorian Drinks & Cocktails
Some of the most popular Ecuadorian drinks are fresh fruit juices and smoothies, called batidos. In the Ecuadorian highlands or Sierra region there are also several warm drinks that are perfect for a cold evening or morning. Chicha style drinks, the most traditional is called chicha de jora and is made from corn. There are also chicha drinks made using oats, rice, yuca or cassava, and fruit. Cocktails tend to use aguardiente, a sugar cane liquor similar to rum, as their main alcohol component. These days you can find a variety of different aguardientes, some are inexpensive mass produced and others are more artisanal/higher quality (ie less hangover).
Tropical fruit smoothie
Easy recipe for a refreshing tropical fruit smoothie made with papaya, banana, pineapple, mango, and orange.
Check out this recipe
Homemade pineapple juice {Jugo de piña}
Simple and easy recipe for homemade pineapple juice or jugo de piña made with fresh pineapple, water, sugar/honey, and lime or lemon juice.
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Limonada, lemonade or limeade
Quick and easy recipe for making fresh homemade limonada, lemonade or limeade using the blender
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Ecuadorian fruity oatmeal drink – Colada de avena con naranjilla
Colada de avena is a traditional Ecuadorian fruity oatmeal drink, it is made with oats, naranjilla fruit, panela or brown sugar, water and cinnamon. Colada can be served cold on warm days or warm during cold winter days.
Check out this recipe
Morocho or Ecuadorian spiced corn pudding drink
Morocho is a thick sweet drink made with morocho corn, milk, cinnamon, sugar and raisins.
Check out this recipe
Colada Morada {Ecuadorian spiced berry drink}
Colada morada or spiced purple corn fruit drink is a traditional Ecuadorian drink made with fruits, spices, and purple corn flour. Colada morada is prepared for the Day of the Deceased celebrations in Ecuador.
Check out this recipe
Spiced pineapple drink {Chicha de piña}
Chicha de piña is a spiced pineapple drink made by simmering the pineapple skins and core with hard brown sugar and spices.
Check out this recipe
Horchata lojana or herbal tea mix
Horchata lojana is a tea type drink made from a variety of herbs and flowers including escancel or bloodleaf, lemon verbena, lemon grass, mint, chamomile, lemon balm, rose geranium, among others.
Check out this recipe
Canelazo and naranjillazo spiced drinks
Canelazo is warm spiced cinnamon cocktail made with cinnamon, water, sugar and aguardiente. Naranjillazo is a version of canelazo made with naranjilla fruit juice.
Check out this recipe
Rompope
Rompope is popular Latin American drink that is made with milk, sugar, vanilla, orange peel, egg yolks, condensed milk, cream and aguardiente or rum.
Check out this recipe
Hot spiced blood orange cocktail
Hot spiced blood orange cocktail inspired by the Ecuadorian canelazo drink made with blood orange juice, cinnamon, spices, and rum or aguardiente sugar cane liquor.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian Appetizers and Snacks
We love snacking in Ecuador, it’s very common to arrive at a restaurant or bar and to be served a simple snack inmediately. Sometimes it’s something as simple as popcorn or crunchy Ecuadorian style corn nuts called maíz tostado. There are so many Ecuadorian dishes that made great appetizers. Some of these dishes can also be served as main entrees depending on the meal. Personally I love serving some of the traditional Ecuadorian street food dishes as appetizers. It’s a great way to sample a variety of different flavors in small bites. Other dishes like stuffed avocados and ceviches work great as a single appetizer for any standard three meal course.
Maiz tostado or South American cancha corn nuts
Maiz tostado is a South American snack made by toasting cancha or chulpe corn.
Check out this recipe
Chifles or thin fried green plantain chips
Homemade recipe for chifles or thin fried green plantain chips. These crunchy chips are also known as mariquitas, chicharitas, platanutres, platanitos or plataninas. You can also make them with very green bananas.
Check out this recipe
Pan de yuca or cheese bread
Pan de yuca, also known as cheese bread or yuca bread, are yummy melt in your mouth warm breads made with cheese and yuca or cassava starch
Check out this recipe
Vegetarian ceviche de chochos
Ceviche de chochos is a vegetarian ceviche made with chocho beans (lupini beans), onions, tomatoes, cilantro, limes, oranges and tomato sauce. It is served with maiz tostado, chifles or plantain chips, avocados and hot sauce.
Check out this recipe
Shrimp stuffed avocado
Delicious recipe for shrimp stuffed avocado made with ripe avocado filled with shrimp, red onion, radish, bell pepper, celery and cilantro aioli salad.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian Ceviches
Ceviches are very popular in the coastal region of Ecuador. There’s nothing more refreshing than having a bowl of freshly made ceviche by the beach. However, you can also find ceviche in the highlands. Ecuadorian ceviches are not limited to seafood. We have vegetarian/vegan ceviches made with chochos, a type of lupini bean, hearts of palm (palmito), mushrooms, and fruits like mango. In Quito you can also find chicken ceviche (made with fully cooked chicken). In Macara, a city in my province of Loja, you can also find a delicious ceviche made with cooked beef.
Ecuadorian shrimp ceviche {Ceviche de camarón}
Classic Ecuadorian shrimp ceviche recipe: shrimp marinated in lime and orange juice with red onions, tomato and cilantro
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian fish ceviche {Ceviche de pescado ecuatoriano}
Recipe for Ecuadorian fish ceviche {ceviche de pescado ecuatoriano} made by marinating or cooking raw fish in lime juice and mixing it with onions, tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro.
Check out this recipe
Oyster ceviche
Mouthwatering oyster ceviche recipe made with fresh oysters, lime juice, onions, tomato, bell pepper, cilantro and oil.
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Vegetarian ceviche de chochos
Ceviche de chochos is a vegetarian ceviche made with chocho beans (lupini beans), onions, tomatoes, cilantro, limes, oranges and tomato sauce. It is served with maiz tostado, chifles or plantain chips, avocados and hot sauce.
Check out this recipe
Mango ceviche
Mango ceviche recipe prepared with fresh mango, onions, lime juice, orange juice, habanero and/or fresno red chili peppers, cilantro, salt.
Check out this recipe
Tuna fish ceviche {Ceviche volquetero}
Recipe for tuna fish ceviche, also known as ceviche volquetero, an Ecuadorian ceviche made with canned tuna fish, onions, tomato, lime juice, cilantro, and served on a platter with chifles or green plantain chips, chochos (lupini beans), toasted corn nuts, and hot sauce.
Check out this recipe
Check out more Ecuadorian ceviche recipes, as wel as all the ceviche recipes on this blog.
Ecuadorian Salads
Salads in Ecuador are usually served as a side dish for a main meal or as an appetizer, though it is becoming more mainstream to have salads served on their own. Salads using seafood, avocado, potatoes, carrots, beans, corn, broccoli, etc are very common. The salad dressings are either lemon/vinegar based or mayonnaise based for potato/vegetable salads.
Shrimp potato salad {Ensalada de papas con camarones}
Latin/Ecuadorian style shrimp potato salad made with shrimp, potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic and mayonnaise.
Check out this recipe
Russian (Latin American) potato salad: Ensalada rusa
Ensalada rusa is a classic potato salad served throughout Latin America, made with potatoes, carrots, peas, apples, celery, onion, and mayonnaise.
Check out this recipe
Avocado stuffed with tuna salad {Aguacate relleno con atun}
Recipe for avocados stuffed with tuna salad made with peas, corn, carrots, hardboiled egg, tomato, parsley, and salsa rosada.
Check out this recipe
Crab salad stuffed avocados
Crab salad stuffed avocados prepared by filling ripe avocados with a salad of crab, red onion, bell pepper, cucumber, radishes, lime juice, olive oil, and cilantro.
Check out this recipe
Garden salad with lime cilantro dressing
Delicious and refreshing garden salad recipe made with lettuce, tomato, onion and avocado with a lime cilantro dressing
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Onion and tomato curtido salsa/salad {Curtido de cebolla y tomate}
Recipe for curtido de cebolla y tomate, a Latin style lime pickled red onion and tomato salad or lime marinated onion tomato salsa
Check out this recipe
Simple avocado and tomato salad
Easy and simple avocado and tomato salad made with ripe tomatoes, avocado, onion, cilantro/parsley, lime juice, olive oil, and salt.
Check out this recipe
Quinoa salad with red pickled onions
Quinoa salad with pickled red onions made with cooked quinoa, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, lime juice, olive oil, and cilantro.
Check out this recipe
Chochos (lupini beans) and green bean salad
Chochos (lupini beans) and green bean salad or side dish made with green beans, chocho beans (lupini beans), potato, tomatoes, onions,olive oil, and fresh herbs.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian Soups
There are so many Ecuadorian soup recipes, even after years of blogging I still have a long list of soup recipes to share. Soups are usually served as the first course for most Ecuadorian lunches. The main lunch course is called “Segundo” which means second because it’s served after the soup.
Locro de papa {Ecuadorian potato and cheese soup}
Recipe for locro de papa or potato soup, a traditional Ecuadorian soup made with potatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, achiote or annatto, milk, cheese and cilantro.
Check out this recipe
{Encebollado de pescado} Ecuadorian tuna fish soup
Encebollado de pescado is an Ecuadorian fish soup made with fresh tuna, yuca or cassava, tomato, onions, cilantro, cumin, hot pepper and topped with pickled red onions.
Check out this recipe
Repe lojano {Green banana/green plantain soup}
Repe lojano is a creamy soup made with green bananas or green plantains, onions, garlic, milk, cheese and cilantro.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian biche or viche fish soup
Biche de pescado, or viche de pescado, is a traditional coastal Ecuadorian soup made with fish, peanuts, yuca, sweet plantains, corn, and other vegetables and spices.
Check out this recipe
Quinoa soup with beef
Easy quinoa soup with beef recipe made with onions, garlic, tomatoes, cumin, achiote/annatto, beef, potatoes, peas, parsley and cilantro. Served with avocado, pickled red onions, and hot sauce.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian chicken rice soup {Aguado de gallina}
Ecuadorian chicken rice soup or aguado de gallina is a thick soup made with chicken, rice, potatoes, onions, peppers, other vegetables, herbs and spices.
Check out this recipe
{Caldo de pata} Ecuadorian cow feet soup
Caldo de pata de res or cow feet soup is a traditional Latin American comfort soup made with cow feet, yuca, mote or hominy, cilantro, parsley, onions, garlic, achiote, cumin, peanuts, milk, oregano.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian green plantain dumpling soup – Caldo de bolas de verde
Caldo de bolas de verde is a typical Ecuadorian soup of green plantain balls or dumplings stuffed with meat and served in a delicious broth with corn and yuca.
Check out this recipe
You can explore more Ecuadorian soup recipes and also all the soup recipes currently posted.
Ecuadorian Main Meals
Ecuadorian main meals can be very filling, especially lunch. There’s usually a protein component that could be meat, fish, seafood, poultry. Sides include rice, which could also be part of the dish, and additional starches like potatos, yuca or cassava, plantains, corn, beans. A small side salad might also be part of the main dish. For those who find that there’s an over-abundance of starches, you can choose the one(s) you want when cooking at home.
Seco de pollo {Ecuadorian chicken stew}
Seco de pollo or seco de gallina is an Ecuadorian chicken stew cooked slowly in a sauce of beer (or chicha), naranjilla juice, onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, herbs and spices.
Check out this recipe
Seafood rice {Arroz marinero}
Seafood rice {Arroz marinero / Arroz con mariscos) is a Latin/South American dish similar to Spanish paella, that is made with rice cooked in seafood broth and sautéed with shrimp, clams, squid, bay scallops, onions, garlic, bell pepper, cilantro and spices.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian lentil stew {Menestra de lentejas}
Arroz con menestra de lentejas is a traditional Ecuadorian lentil stew simmered with onion, pepper, tomato, garlic, cumin, and cilantro. Menestra is usually served with rice and thin grilled steaks or carne asada.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian churrasco
Ecuadorian churrasco is a traditional dish made with steaks, grilled , or sometimes fried in an onion and pepper sauce, topped with a fried egg and served with rice, fries, plantains and salad.
Check out this recipe
Pescado encocado or fish with coconut sauce
Pescado encocado or fish with coconut sauce is an Ecuadorian coastal dish of fish seasoned with citrus and spices and then cooked in a sauce of cilantro, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and coconut milk.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian fritada de chancho
Fritada de chancho a popular weekend dish in Ecuador, in this traditional dish the pork is cooked in a mix of water, orange juice with onion, garlic and cumin until the liquid is gone and the pork browns in the “mapahuira” or mix of its own grease and spices/flavors from the onion/garlic
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Guatita: Ecuadorian tripe stew
Ecuadorian guatita is a traditional dish of beef tripe stew with potatoes cooked in a delicous peanut sauce.
Check out this recipe
Chaulafan de pollo: Ecuadorian chicken fried rice
Chaulafan de pollo is an Ecuadorian chicken fried rice made with rice, chicken, bacon, onions, garlic, peppers, bell peppers, peas, carrots, scrambled eggs, raisins, spices and herbs.
Check out this recipe
Braised goat stew {Ecuadorian seco de chivo}
Ecuadorian seco de chivo is a goat stew dish braised in a sauce of garlic, cumin, achiote, oregano, peppers, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, chicha or fermented corn drink, naranjilla or lulo juice, panela and spices.
Check out this recipe
Grilled fish with seafood sauce
Recipe for grilled fish with seafood sauce, prepared with grilled fish (cod, halibut, mahi-mahi, etc) topped with a creamy garlic seafood sauce made with shrimp, calamari, scallops, garlic, onion, white wine and cream.
Check out this recipe
Find more Ecuadorian main dishes and also all the recipes for main dishes I’ve shared.
Ecuadorian Side Dishes
Fried ripe plantains – Platanos maduros fritos
Easy recipe for fried ripe plantains or platanos maduros fritos, a must-have side dish for so many Latin dishes.
Check out this recipe
Lime pickled onions – Cebollas encurtidas
Recipe for lime pickled onions or cebollas encurtidas, these Latin/Ecuadorian marinated or pickled red onions made by marinating thinly sliced red onions with lime juice and salt.
Check out this recipe
Patacones or tostones
Easy recipe for homemade patacones or tostones, a popular Latin American appetizer or side dish made with twice fried slices of green plantains.
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Ecuadorian Sauces
Tamarillo or tree tomato ají hot sauce / Ecuadorian ají de tomate de árbol
Tamarillo or tree tomato aji hot sauce is a very tasty hot sauce made from tree tomatoes or tamarillos, hot peppers, onion, cilantro and lime juice.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian hot sauce recipe {Aji criollo}
Aji criollo is an Ecuadorian hot sauce made with hot peppers, cilantro, garlic, onion and lime
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Passion fruit hot sauce {Ají de maracuya}
Recipe for passion fruit hot sauce, or ají de maracuya, is a mildly spicy creamy salsa made with passion fruit juice, ajies or hot chile peppers, lime juice, olive or avocado oil, and cilantro.
Check out this recipe
Onion and tomato curtido salsa/salad {Curtido de cebolla y tomate}
Recipe for curtido de cebolla y tomate, a Latin style lime pickled red onion and tomato salad or lime marinated onion tomato salsa
Check out this recipe
Cilantro mayonnaise or aioli {Mayonesa de cilantro}
Recipe for cilantro aioli {Mayonesa de cilantro} style mayonnaise sauce made with egg, oil, fresh cilantro, lime and garlic.
Check out this recipe
Salsa rosada or salsa golf
Salsa rosada, also known as golf sauce o salsa coctel, is a popular Latin American sauce made with mix of mayonnaise and ketchup
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian Street Food
Espumillas or guava meringue cream
Espumillas are a a popular street food in Ecuador, this dessert is a meringue cream made with fruit pulp, typically guava or guayaba, egg whites and sugar.
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Baked ripe plantains with cheese
Easy recipe for homemade baked ripe plantains stuffed with cheese.
Check out this recipe
Salchipapas {South American style french fries with sausages + topping sauces}
Salchipapas, or French fries with hot dog sausages, are a typical South American snack/street food. These salchipapas are topped with tomato onion salsa and homemade salsa rosada.
Check out this recipe
Fried cheese empanadas // Empanadas de viento
Recipe for empanadas de viento or fried cheese empanadas, these delicious traditional Ecuadorian empanadas are filled with cheese, fried until crispy, and served sprinkled with sugar.
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Grilled corn with cilantro queso fresco sauce
Recipe for grilled corn on the cob with a cilantro queso fresco sauce, inspired by Ecuadorian street food of choclos asados con salsa de queso y cilantro.
Check out this recipe
Thin beef skewers {Carne en palito/chuzos/pinchos}
Recipe for grilled thin beef skewers, or Ecuadorian carne en palito or chuzos, made with thinly sliced meat seasoned with garlic, achiote and cumin and grilled on skewers.
Check out this recipe
Chifles or thin fried green plantain chips
Homemade recipe for chifles or thin fried green plantain chips. These crunchy chips are also known as mariquitas, chicharitas, platanutres, platanitos or plataninas. You can also make them with very green bananas.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian Breakfast Meals
Green plantain patties stuffed with cheese {Tortillas de verde}
Ecuadorian green plantain patties stuffed with cheese, also known as tortillas de verde, made with a dough of green plantains, a cheese filling (or your choice of filling), and cooked on a griddle or frying pan.
Check out this recipe
Majado de verde or mashed plantains
Majado de verde is a green plantain mash made with green plantains, onions, garlic, and achiote. Majado is served with fried eggs and cheese slices.
Check out this recipe
Bolon de verde or fried green plantain dumplings
Bolon de verde are green plantain dumplings stuffed with cheese, chorizo or chicharrones and fried until crispy.
Check out this recipe
Mote pillo or hominy with eggs
Ecuadorian mote pillo consists of hominy corn sautéed with onions, garlic, achiote, eggs, milk, chives and cilantro or parsley, and served with hot black coffee and slices of fresh cheese
Check out this recipe
Fried cheese empanadas // Empanadas de viento
Recipe for empanadas de viento or fried cheese empanadas, these delicious traditional Ecuadorian empanadas are filled with cheese, fried until crispy, and served sprinkled with sugar.
Check out this recipe
Humitas or steamed fresh corn cakes {My mom’s recipe}
Recipe for humitas or savory steamed fresh corn cakes made from a mixture of freshly ground corn, onion, garlic, cheese, eggs, and cream, which is placed inside corn husks and steamed.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian fruity oatmeal drink – Colada de avena con naranjilla
Colada de avena is a traditional Ecuadorian fruity oatmeal drink, it is made with oats, naranjilla fruit, panela or brown sugar, water and cinnamon. Colada can be served cold on warm days or warm during cold winter days.
Check out this recipe
Skilled of fried plantains with melted cheese
Easy recipe for a skillet of fried plantains with melted cheese, made with sweet ripe plantains topped with grated quesillo or grated mozzarella.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian Desserts
Tropical fruit salad
Come y bebe is an Ecuadorian fruit salad. This simple and refreshing tropical fruit salad is made with papaya, pineapple, banana and orange juice.
Check out this recipe
Alfajores: Dulce de leche sandwich cookies
Recipe for making homemade alfajores or dulce de leche sandwich cookies. These Latin American cookies are made with all purpose flour, cornstarch, butter, baking powder, egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, milk, and vanilla. They are filled with caramel and decorated with coconut or icing sugar.
Check out this recipe
Dulce de higos or fig preserves in syrup
Dulce de higos or fig preserves in spiced syrup are made by cooking ripe figs in a syrup of panela/piloncillo or brown cane sugar and spices.
Check out this recipe
Arroz con leche {Latin style rice pudding}
Easy recipe for homemade arroz con leche, a classic Latin American rice pudding dessert made with rice, milk, cinnamon, sugar, raisins, and condensed milk.
Check out this recipe
Flan de piña or pineapple flan
Pineapple flan, also known as flan de piña or queso de piña, is a custard like dessert made with fresh pineapple juice, sugar, milk, eggs, vanilla and rum.
Check out this recipe
Manjar or dulce de leche – traditional stovetop preparation
Recipe for homemade manjar or dulce de leche, a traditional Latin dessert made by caramelizing milk and sugar.
Check out this recipe
Mango yogurt popsicles {Helados de mango y yogurt}
Quick and easy recipe for creamy mango yogurt popsicles made with yogurt, ripe mangoes, and honey.
Check out this recipe
Layered flag popsicles
Easy recipe for layered gelatin flag popsicles made with flavored gelatin or jello, water, and sugar. The perfect treat for your World Cup party.
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Fruit popsicles – Helados o paletas de frutas
Recipe for homemade tropical fruit popsicles made with papaya, pineapple, banana and orange juice.
Check out this recipe
Ecuadorian Holiday Food
Fanesca or Ecuadorian Easter soup
Recipe for fanesca, an Ecuadorian soup or stew made only during Lent and Easter. This soup is made with bacalao or salted cod, squash, fava beans, chochos, corn, peas, porotos or fresh beans, rice, onions, garlic, cumin, achiote, peanuts, milk, cream and cheese.
Check out this recipe
Molo or Ecuadorian mashed potatoes
Molo is an Ecuadorian version of mashed potatoes made with milk, cream, queso fresco and a refrito of onions, garlic, and achiote or annatto. Molo is served with lettuce leaves, hard boiled eggs, hot pepper slices, avocados, scallions, cilantro or parsley, tomato and onion curtido and aji or hot sauce.
Check out this recipe
Colada Morada {Ecuadorian spiced berry drink}
Colada morada or spiced purple corn fruit drink is a traditional Ecuadorian drink made with fruits, spices, and purple corn flour. Colada morada is prepared for the Day of the Deceased celebrations in Ecuador.
Check out this recipe
Guaguas de pan or bread figures
Guaguas de pan are traditional Ecuadorian sweet bread figures, shaped liked babies or dolls, that are part of the Day of the Deceased holiday.
Check out this recipe
Hornado de chancho – Roasted Pork Leg
Whole roasted pork leg or hornado de pierna de chancho, prepared by marinating the pork in a sauce of beer, garlic and spices. Slow roasted with butter and spices.
Check out this recipe
Rompope
Rompope is popular Latin American drink that is made with milk, sugar, vanilla, orange peel, egg yolks, condensed milk, cream and aguardiente or rum.
Check out this recipe
Pristiños
Pristiños are traditional Christmas fried pastries that are served with panela syrup or candied figs.
Check out this recipe
