This recipe produces: 6 baked ripe plantains
This is an easy recipe for a taste of Ecuador. Baked ripe plantains stuffed with cheese are a common treat that all seven Downings suggest you try this dish at least once.
Click play to listen to this recipe!
Ingredients
6 slices of mozzarella
1-2 pats of melted butter
6 ripe plantains, whole
Instructions
First. Pre-heat oven to 400 F
Then. Peel the plantains, place them on a baking sheet and rub them with butter.
Then. Bake the plantains for 30 minutes, turn and bake for another 20 minutes. Both sides should be golden brown.
Then. Remove the plantains from the oven, make a cut (from end to end) and stuff them with the cheese slices. In a few minutes the cheese will melt
Enjoy. Serve warm.
Empanadas de viento are a special Ecuadorian treat. Six out of seve Downings consider this the best kind of empanada. We highly recommend this delicious treat.
Ingredients:
25 small empanada discs (you can usehomemade empanada dough, see recipe below, or store bought dough)
2 ¾ cups grated cheese (quesillo, mozzarella, monterey jack, or other white melting cheese)
½ white onion chopped
½ cup sugar for sprinkling
Frying oil
Preparation:
First. Mix the grated cheese and chopped onions together.
Then. Spoon the cheese filling on the center of the each empanada disc.
Then. Fold the empanada discs and seal the edges, first pressing gently with your fingers, next use a fork to press down and seal, twist and fold the edges of the empanadas and then use the fork again to make sure they are sealed.
Then. Chill the empanadas for one hour.
Then. Fry the empanadas in a frying pan, use enough oil to cover at least half of the empanada, let the oil get very hot and fry each empanada until they are golden on each side.
Then. Place the empanadas on paper towels to drain any excess oil, sprinkle with sugar.
Enjoy. Serve warm.
Empanada Dough
Ingredients:
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 stick of butter, cut in 8 pieces
½ orange juiced
1/2 – 2/3 cup chilled sparkling water
3 cups all purpose flour
Preparation:
First. Mix the flour, salt and baking powder.
Then. Add the pieces of butter, juice the ½ orange and sparkling water – add ½ cup of the water to begin and then add more as needed or until clumps of dough start to form.
Then. Form a ball with the dough and knead.
Then. Place the dough in bowl, cover and let rest at room temperature for one hour.
Then. Roll out the dough into a thin sheet and cut out round disc shapes for empanadas. Discs should be really thin so that they will fully cook when you fry them. The discs do not need to be completely round but they need to be about three inches in diameter.
Then. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator or freezer to use later.
We love mangos! This simple mango ceviche recipe has brought us a fair amount of joy. Seven out of seven Downings from youngest to oldest love this ceviche. To hear the recipe click the play button below.
Ingredients
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
Juice of a dozen limes
1-2 hot peppers (red chilies, serranos or habaneros), seeded and sliced finely
Small red onion, sliced very finely
½ cup water
four sprigs of chopped cilantro
2 tbs sunflower oil
1 tbs salt
4 ripe firm mangoes
3 ripe juicy (soft) mangoes
Instructions
First. Peel and dice the firm mangoes
Then. Soak the mangoes with ½ of the lime juice, ketchup, sugar and hot pepper slices for two of hours.
Then. Pickle the onions by soaking them in warm water and 1 tbs of salt for 10 minutes, rinse and drain.
Then. Mix the sliced onions and remaining lime juice, let marinate for two hours.
Then. Remove the pulp from the three soft mangoes and blend with ½ cup of cold water to make a puree.
Then. Add the sunflower oil to the marinated onions.
Then. Combine the diced mangoes, the mango puree, ½ of the pickled onions and the chopped cilantro in a large bowl. Stir well and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Then. Serve with the remaining pickled onions on the side or a spoonful on top of each individual bowl.
This recipe for shrimp stuffed avocado is made with ripe avocado filled with shrimp, red onion, radish, bell pepper, celery and cilantro mayonnaise. It is a delightful appetizer but we find it is filling enough to be counted as a meal! If you dislike shrimp you can salvage this Ecuadorian food experience by replacing the shrimp with pulled chicken.
Ingredients
1 lb medium sized cooked shrimp
5 firm ripe avocados
½ medium red onion, diced
2 radishes, diced
½ red bell pepper, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 hard boiled eggs, diced
5 tbs mayonnaise with chopped cilantro
Lime juice from 1 lime
Salt/pepper to taste
Optional garnishes:
Chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes and chopped cilantro
Instructions
First. Chop the cooked shrimp in half, if desired keep a few whole to garnish.
Then. Combine diced onions, radishes, bell pepper, celery, eggs, shrimp, ½ of the lime juice and mayonnaise in a bowl, mix well. Taste and salt/pepper if necessary. Keep mixture refrigerated until ready to use.
Then. Cut avocados in half, remove seed and peel carefully.
Then. Drizzle remaining lime juice over avocados, this help keep them from darkening too quickly.
Then. Use a spoon to stuff avocados with shrimp salad filling.
Enjoy. Add any garnishes and serve immediately.
Note:
This dish is best served with aji or hot sauce to spice it up.
Chicha de piña is a spiced pineapple drink made by simmering the pineapple skins and core with spices and hard brown sugar. Seven out of seven members of the Downing family recommend this simple drink.
A while back we spoke about understanding Culture through language (you can listen to that podcast by clicking here). Today we invite you to begin understanding Ecuador through food. Today’s podcast begins a Saturday series called “Cooking With The Downings.” Each Saturday you will be invited to experience a different Ecuadorian recipe and join us as we explore the gastronomy of our beloved Ecuador.
Today’s episode of Cooking With The Downings is a bit work intensive but it is worth it to get a taste of Easter on the Equator. Fanesca is a popular soup served during Easter celebrations. To listen to our thoughts about it click play on the podcast below.
Fanesca (Ecuadorian Easter Soup) Recipe.
Serves: 25 people
This recipe serves a lot of people because Easter Soup is made for a very special occasion. It is made for the traditional family get together’s held on Easter Sunday.
Ingredients
2 lbs dried salt cod
12 ½ cups of milk
1 cup of heavy cream
6 cups of diced fresh zucchini
1 small butternut squash
2 ½ cups of shredded cabbage
4 cups of cooked and peeled fava beans
4 cups of cooked corn kernels
3 cups of cooked peas
2 cups of cooked lima beans
2 cups of cooked cannellini beans
2 cups of peeled lupini beans
2 cups of tender cooked rice
8 tbs butter
1 ½ tsp of achiote
1 diced white onion
1 diced red onion
10 crushed garlic cloves
1 tbs of ground cumin
1 tbs of dry oregano
1 tsp of ground pepper
2 cups of roasted peanuts
12 oz of cream cheese
1 cup of feta cheese
½ bunch of finely chopped cilantro
Avocado slices
Queso fresco
Pinch of salt
Instructions
First. Soak the salt cod in water for 24 hours, changing the water every 6-8 hours, at the end cut the cod into medium-sized pieces.
Then. Barely cover the diced butternut squash and zucchini and cook until tender, drain the water and place them in a blender and make a puree.
Then. Boil the shredded cabbage for 3 minutes, drain and add the cabbage to the squash puree.
Then. In a large pot, Heat the butter over medium heat to make a flavor base for the soup, add the achiote, onions, garlic, cumin, pepper and oregano and cook until the onions are tender.
Then. Add the cooked rice to the flavor base and mash it with a potato masher to make a thick puree.
Then. Mix in the squash and cabbage puree.
Then. Add 4 cups of milk and the fava beans, green peas, corn, lima beans and cannellini beans, stir and simmer for 15 minutes, stir frequently and avoid the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
At The Same Time. Bring 6 cups of milk to boil, add the cod, and boil for 10 minutes.
Then. Add the milk and cod to the soup.
Then. Blend 2 cups of milk with the roasted peanuts, and pour into the soup, cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Then. 10 minutes before serving, add the lupini beans, the heavy cream and the cheeses, stir to help the cheeses dissolve. Add chopped cilantro and stir well.
Enjoy. Serve with sliced avocado and traditional Ecuadorian side dishes.
Are you thinking of attempting this recipe? We would love to read your comments about your experience.
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The Downings
The Downings
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The Dowings