Ecuador is a very diverse country with its people, history, and topography. Ecuador is made up of four different regions, each very different from the rest. There is the Galapagos Islands which is one of the most unique places in the world. Then there is the coastal area which is known for the extremely productive agriculture as well as seafood. Crossing through the middle of the country is the Andes mountain range, this mountainous area is very unique and is known for heartier dishes. On the eastern side of the Ecuador, is the rainforest. The rainforest part of the country is known for the indigenous tribes that live off the land and produce shrunken heads. Due to the diversity in the regions of Ecuador, the cuisine is also diverse and plays a huge part of cultural identity. The most populated areas of Ecuador are on the coast and in the mountains. The coastal cuisine mainly consists of seafood, plaintains, beans, and other fruit. The coast is known for their ceviches and shrimp. The mountainous region is known for heartier dishes consisting of mostly meat, rice, and potatoes. Potatoes are a staple food in the mountainous region. The area around Quito (the capitol city) is known for its very distinct potato soup. Typically around Ecuador, lunch is the principal meal of the day, which usually consists of a vegetable soup then a main course with some sort of meat. One interesting food that is served in the mountainous region is “cuy” or guinea pig. The idea of guinea pig as a food and partly for religious ceremonies comes from Peru and the Incan empire. Cuy is more of a dark meat similar to rabbit. Another food that comes from the Incan times is jerky, or charqui in Quechua. Fried or mashed plaintains are also a significant part of the diet. In todays Ecuador, empanadas and pan de yucca are two popular snack foods. Empanadas are a pastry that is filled with meat and rice usually and then deep fried. Pan de yucca is a sort of bread made from yucca and usually filled with cheese.

 

Sources:

http://www.mundoandino.com/Ecuador/Culture-in-depth

http://www.colby.edu/personal/r/rcwhite/food.html#