DELICIOUS DISHES OF COAST REGION FROM ECUADOR

THE COAST REGION

The Coast Region in Ecuador has many delicious dishes to offer to the tourist, these are based in freshest fish and other local products.

Next I'm going to give you two traditional recipes of the region.

SOPA MARINERA (SEAFOOD SOUP)

This soup is traditional along the Coast, It's offered in many restaurants and prepared in family meetings.  

Ingredients:

*. 1 cup of fish (merlusa, picudo)

*. 1 cup of shells without conchs

*. 1 cup of oysters without conchs

*. 1 cup of mussels without conchs

*. 1 cup of clams without conchs

*. 1 cup of peeled shrimps

*. 1 cup of chopped squid

*. 1/2 cup of octopus

*. 1 tablespoon of peanut paste

*. 1/2 cup of green peas

*. 1 grated verde (green banana)

*. 2 tablespoons of refrito (garlic, onion, red pepper finely chopped, fried with oil)

*. 2 1/2 liters of water

*. Salt

*. Pepper

Preparation:

Cut the fish into small pieces and season, then boil the water and add the refrito, when it's boling add the grated verde, green peas, squid and octopus and let boil for twenty minutes.

Then add the shells, mussels and oysters, let boil for ten minutes and when it's soft, add the fish and shrimp and let boil for five minutes more.

Apart the peanut paste must be dissolved in half cup of water and put it in the broth. Let boil until the fish is cooked, then add mint leaf.

This soup is served with patacones (fried green banana cut into round shape).

Sopa Marinera

Patacones 

ARROZ CON CANGREJO Y COCO (RICE WITH CRAB AND COCONUT)

This is one of the most delicious dishes in the Coast, the mixture of coconut and crab create a unique flavor that you can't lose.

Ingredients:

*. 1 pound of rice

*. 1 pound of crab meat

*. 1/2 pound of butter

*. 1 coconut

*. 2 big red peppers

*. 2 cebolla paiteña (purple onions)

*. 3 branches of cebolla blanca (leek onion)

*. 3 garlic

*. Salt

*. Pepper

Preparation:

Cook the rice. Grate the coconut and get two milks with a cup of water. Finely chop the red peppers, onions, garlic and add salt and pepper and make a refrito, then put the second coconut milk and crab meat leaving it cook for about 10 minutes stirring constantly to prevent sticking. 

Add first coconut milk and cook for a few minutes, then put this mixture with the rice and simmer for about 10 minutes. 

It is ready to serve adorning with salad or fried ripe bananas.

Arroz con cangrejo y coco