Plantains in Ecuador

Any way you try them, you are sure to love them!

Plantains, commonly referred to as “verde” in Ecuador, are an important staple and are used in a huge range of dishes, from the coast to the highlands, plantain is a big part of the culinary culture, and you will have to try some of these amazing dishes when you visit!

If you have never seen a plantain, it looks like a super sized banana, and unlike the bananas most of us are familiar with, it does not lose its green color as it ripens. Additionally, it is not a sweet fruit, and therefore is used in salty and savory dishes, and is not eaten raw.

Just to give a few examples, here are some typical plantain snacks and dishes to try:

• Patacones – Pressed and twice fried, this plantain side dish is crispy and amazing
• Empanadas de verde – Empanadas made with plantain, filled with cheese and sometimes chicken, are sure to leave you wanting more
• Chifles – Thin Plantain chips, salty and sometimes with a bit of spice
• Bolon – A ball of plantain filled with cheese, and sometimes pork, fried to crispy perfection
• Tigrillo – Not to be confused with the medium sized wildcat also found in Ecuador, this is kind of like a broken apart bolon, mixed with eggs
• Corviche – The coastal bolon, plantain mixed with fish served in crispy balls for breakfast or lunch
• Sopa/caldo de bolas (de verde) – Essentially a soup made with plantain with mini bolones inside
• Sango – Seafood soup with a plantain base, it is thick, rich, and irresistible

And many more!

No matter how you want to try verde, make sure you do not miss out on giving it a shot, and if you want our advice, try it as many ways as you can during your stay! look for this experiences during our city tours