Ecuadorian Street Food: chochos and tostado
One great way to experience Ecuador is by eating some of the traditional dishes available throughout the country.
Ecuador is located in the middle of the world and has four different regions, making eating an important part of the traveling experience for many.
To help you discover some of the country’s known and unknown cuisine we have written a series of blog posts, each for a different dish or street food option.
Today we want to share one of the tasty and healthy traditional street food options in Ecuador, chocho and tostado.
About chocho and tostado
Chocho with tostado is a tasty and healthy snack or street food that you must try while in Ecuador.
Street vendors will add chochos (lupini beans), lemon juice, onions, and then tostado (Andean corn nuts) to a small plastic blow or bag and sell them in many places around the country.
Tostado is often served together with ceviche, another traditional dish we have in Ecuador.
The first ingredient of this street food is chochos (picture above), a white bean rich in protein, which is considered a superfood. Chocho (Andean Lupin) is a legume cultivated high up in the Andes and it has been a core component of Ecuadorian and Peruvian cuisine for many years.
The second ingredient is maiz tostado(picture above), a South American toasted corn nut that is oftentimes served as a snack, with chocho or together with ceviche.
If you are in South America, I would love to see your pictures.
What it tastes like
Chochos have a mild flavor, that when mixed with tostado, lemon juice, and onion results in this tasty flavor with a bit of a crunch.
This is a great snack, one that is satisfying and rich in protein.
How and where to eat chocos with tostado
Chochos with tostado can be bought to street vendors around markets, local fairs, and bus stops. In addition, they are served as snacks in restaurants or served with soups in restaurants in Quito and Lima.
The chocho beans are high in protein, so they are a good source of energy and a great snack or addition to a salad. I personally have had chochos as some of my favorite healthy snacks.
Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!).
Do you like chochos and tostado?
Leave your comment below!
If you found this post inspiring and helpful, We would appreciate it if you would pin, share or tweet this page on any social media platforms you use!
Every little bit will help us fund our travels to continue bringing great content to our site.
PIN IT FOR LATER
Want to Learn to make some of these dishes and many more? This book: Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America, comprises 500 well-written recipes from all Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, providing great information and recipes of the exciting food you can prepare at home. At the same time, you plan your visit to South America.
Don´t just dream it. Make it happen. Plan your South American trip with a local!
Take a look at this list of travel resources to plan your trip and travel in South America.
Daydreaming about your trip to South America? I share with you some useful tips & resources for a memorable trip! Order here your Free Ebook.
I invite you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. In addition, you can subscribe on YouTube. You can also send me an email to get more information or help planning your trip: info(at) visitecuadorandsouthamerica(dot)com.
