Ecuadorian food: What is the difference between tamal, humita, and chibil
Whether you are a foodie or enjoy eating local food wherever you can during your trips, this article is for you!
Due to its location and despite its small size, seafood, fruits, and vegetables abound in Ecuador. Recipes and ingredients are varied, resulting in a variety of tasty traditional dishes in each region.
You can definitely learn a lot about Ecuador through its food.
In this article, we want to discuss three tasty Ecuadorian dishes: humitas, tamales, and chibiles.
Why Visit Ecuador?
Ecuador is a treasure trove of cultural and culinary wonders. From the Amazon to the Andes, every corner offers something unique. One must-visit is Cuenca, where traditions like timbulos enrich your experience. Planning a trip? Here’s our two-week itinerary, including a visit to the Galápagos Islands, ideal for both budget travelers and cruise enthusiasts.
About humitas
Humitas are a Native Latin American dish from pre-Hispanic times and a traditional dish of Ecuadorian cuisine.
Ecuadorian humitas are popular in the highland region and are mainly made with ground corn. In addition, depending on the recipe they will have onions, eggs, and spices. After the ingredients are mixed, they are wrapped in a corn husk and then steamed.
Spices vary according to each region and sometimes to each family, the reason why some may contain cheese.
About Tamales
Tamales are made with corn, egg whites, and grated cheese. This dough is covered with a mix of onion and garlic refried, and covered with chicken. The dough with the filling goes inside an achira leaf and then it is steamed.
About Chibiles
As you can see below, the Chibil also known as chigüil has a different shape than the tamal.
A savory chibil is made with white corn, but with the variety that we have in the highlands of ecuador, called mote. The savory kind is wrapped in the leaf of the plant called huicundo.
A sweet chibil is made with corn but is wrapped in a corn husk.
The Chibil or chigüil is found mainly in the provinces of Guaranda, Azuay, and Cañar in the Highlands of Ecuador, where you find the white corn called mote, and the humitas and tamales are prepared throughout the Highlands of the country.
If you are in South America, I would love to see your pictures.
What tamal, humita, and chibil taste like
In all three cases, you can make the recipe from scratch by putting the corn in water for 3 days and changing the water daily. Then grind it until it becomes really thin.
Now, when it comes to the flavor of the three dishes, due to the variety of con (Ecuadorian corn is less sweet and drier than the corn found in the US), they are depending on the recipe, savory and moist.
All three options are soft, and moist and are perfect as a meal, or together with coffee.
While doing some research to write this blog post, I found out that in other Latin American countries, they call tamales humitas, but as you can see the humita doesn’t have a filling with food, as the tamal and it is covered in corn leaf.
And, our latest discovery are timbulos
Unlike the others, timbulos are sweet, wrapped in corn husks, and … https://bit.ly/timbulos
How and where to eat humitas, tamales, and chibiles
How to eat umitas
Most people in Ecuador enjoy their humitas during a cafecito or afternoon coffee, or sometimes for breakfast.
Of course, there are some ways to alter or add flavor to them. One includes adding some arrope to them and having them as a delicious dessert.
According to others, a great way to enjoy humitas is with aji or hot sauce.
Humitas are sold at pastry shops, supermarkets, cafes, and restaurants selling traditional food.
How to eat Tamales
If you want to make tamales de arroz at home, this is the recipe.
As with humitas, tamales are also served during a cafecito or afternoon coffee, or sometimes for breakfast; and can be bought in small restaurants and sometimes in supermarkets.
Aji or hot sauce is served with this dish, which is mainly savory adding a special taste to them.
How to eat Chibiles
As with humitas and tamales, chibiles are also served during a cafecito or afternoon coffee, or sometimes for breakfast.
They are traditional dishes of the Southern Highlands of Ecuador, so you will only be able to find them in the outskirts of Azuay and Cañar, and the chigüil in the province of Guaranda.
Conclusion
If you’re on a road trip from Quito to Cuenca, don’t miss our top blog post detailing the journey’s highlights here.
Ecuadorian food, with its unique flavors and traditions, offers an unforgettable culinary journey. Exploring dishes like humitas, tamales, and chibiles reveals the country’s deep cultural and regional diversity. Each dish tells a story, from the savory chibiles of Guaranda to the comforting humitas enjoyed with cafecito.
Whether you’re traveling through the highlands or visiting bustling markets, these dishes are a must-try for anyone wanting to experience Ecuador authentically. If you haven’t yet tasted these delights, let this be your invitation to discover the vibrant world of Ecuadorian cuisine.
What are your favorite traditional Ecuadorian dishes? Share your experiences or thoughts below—we’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to like, share, and follow for more culinary adventures from Ecuador and beyond.
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