Ecuador is a vibrant and diverse country, full of cultures, experiences, and landscapes. Each region of the country carries its delicious typical foods and each dish has its own history and magic. On this occasion, I will tell you about the most extravagant and delicious exotic flavors that you can try in the Amazon region, the Ecuadorian jungle.
Dare to explore the most curious culinary experiences of the South American country, prepare your palate, and enter this adventure.
The exotic chontacuro
The chontacuro larva is one of the most common delicious exotic flavors in the Amazon. Its fat and juicy appearance causes curiosity for foreign and local visitors who dare to eat this delicious snack. There are different ways to eat them, both raw and roasted, depending on what the consumer likes the most. Many visitors prefer to eat them marinated with orange or lemon juice and cooked over charcoal.
Due to its nutritional properties, locals eat it raw as it is believed to also serve as medicine. It has a juicy texture and much of it tastes like coconut.
You can find this gastronomic wonder in the provinces of Napo, Orellana, and Pastaza.
Chicha of Yuca
Local communities make this traditional drink and most of them drink it. It may sound crazy but the process in which it is made is by chewing and spitting. Simply, the yuca is harvested and cooked in boiling water. After that, it is crushed with large paddles to obtain a smoother consistency while it is still hot in the container. While the Yuca is beaten, indigenous women proceed to chew it until the consistency becomes liquid and spit it parallel back to the hot container. This process is repeated several times until all the yuca is in the consistency of puree, it is also mixed with water until it reaches the consistency.
Saliva enzymes make starch into sugars which bacteria or wild yeast ferment into alcohol, all this process in hand with the saliva results in a sweet and mildly sour chicha. And within a couple of hours, you can drink it fresh. If you are very fragile, I suggest you do not watch the process to enjoy the drink more. It tastes good!
Roasted Piranha
This classical dish with origins from the province of Orellana is one of the most curious that consumers want to try. The Piranha is a carnivorous species of fish that lives in the zone of the Napo River. Locals proceed to fish this creature and then start turning it into an exquisite dish. Once the fish is caught, it is washed well. On the other hand, the banana leaves must also be washed too.
After completing this step, cut the torso of the fish into several parts to ensure it cooks thoroughly inside. Add salt and pepper to enhance the taste. For a unique twist, incorporate a vegetable smoothie with garlic on the leaves to boost the flavor of the piranha. After completing this step, wrap the banana leaves around the fish, tie them with a cord, and cook on the grill over low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes. It is crazy to think that you can taste an animal taken from horror movies in real life. However, it is a cool anecdote that you can tell your family or friends.
Big Butt Ants
The big butt ants are one of the most delicious appetizers of the exotic flavors of the Ecuadorian Amazon, to give you an idea it is like eating crispy popcorn. Its preparation process is quite simple, however, it cannot be done frequently since the season of ants occurs approximately twice a year and they are eaten in September and October.
You can serve this appetizer raw or fried, you just have to remove the wings and legs of each ant before putting them in your mouth. Usually to make it crispy they are eaten fried, they are washed with salt and water and then they are dropped in a pot or frying pan with a little bit of oil, after that they are fried until they reach that consistency. You can serve the dish with yuca, roasted banana, or a traditional drink like chicha or any other.
Frog Legs
Frog legs are a well-known dish served in the province of Zamora Chinchipe. It is like eating chicken and the taste is quite similar. The presentation in which this dish is eaten is usually breaded to give it a crunchy and delicious texture.
The process is not complex either. Once you have the frog legs, you season them with pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Then you dip them in beaten eggs and finally cover them with flour and a little sweet paprika powder. After this, you put them in a basin of boiling oil to fry them and serve them with salad and rice. Many people want to try this meal because of its outstanding flavor.
The Amazonía Ecuatoriana offers a remarkable culinary journey filled with unique and adventurous flavors. Each food and drink reflects local customs and the jungle’s vast biodiversity, from the unusual chontacuro caterpillar to the interesting chicha of yuca. Amazon offers exceptional food, including roasted piranha, crispy large butt ants, and soft frog legs. Take a chance on Ecuador’s unusual cuisine—each bite is a taste of its rich history.
