5 Must Eat Foods in Ecuador

Ecuador is a food lover’s paradise. With so many varieties of fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood and meat, Ecuador has something for everyone, no matter your taste or budget.

Here are my top 5 must eat foods in Ecuador:

Chocolate

Chocolate is my number one food most of the time, but here in Ecuador it is the best! Much of the world’s award winning chocolate is made from Ecuador grown cacoa beans and here in Ecuador there is a huge variety of chocolate to choose from. My personal favourite is the award winning Pacari, an organic chocolate that I’ve been told by many is the best in Ecaudor. Winner of multiple awards the dark, richly bitter chocolate comes in flavours such as fig, lemongrass and rose.

Image credit: Everjean

Llapingachos

Pronounced ‘ja-pin-ga-chos’ this meal is available at almost all markets throughout Ecuador for approximately USD$3. Usually consisting of fried potato/green plantain cakes, chorizo sausage, lettuce, beetroot, avocado and a fried egg, this large plate of food could easily feed two of me.

Image credit: DFRod

Jugo

The jugo or ‘juice’ here in Ecuador is the best I have had anywhere in the world. You can find jugo stands, shops or market stalls almost everywhere that sell freshly made juice to order. My favourite is jugo de coco, coconut juice, however a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice for USD$0.50 is also a winner.

Image credit: Dave Lonsdale

Falafel

I hadn’t realised how popular falafel was in Ecuador until I started to look for it. Suddenly shawarma stores were appearing before my eyes, selling delicious falafel wraps. Made from chickpeas, herbs and spices, wrapped in a tortilla and served with salad and garlic sauce, falafel is my vegetarian go to take-away food.

Image Credit: Jennifer

Tortilla De Verde

When I first ate tortilla de verde I was convinced I was eating a potato cake. However when I discovered it was actually green plantain, which is similar to a banana and comes in both sweet and savoury varieties, I was floored. Plantain is the basis of a lot of Ecuadorian cuisine. The sweet variety is usually fried and turned into bright yellow patacones, whereas the green variety is used the same way as westerners use potatoes. Tortilla de verde of usually served with eggs as a breakfast dish and is incredibly filling.