Ecuadorian dessert: Helados de Paila
Ecuador is a very diverse country, something that can also be witnessed through its gastronomy. There are plenty of ingredients, fresh fruits, and vegetables available year-round, resulting in a country offering food that will delight every palate.
To get a glimpse of the wide range of fresh fruit that Ecuador offers, you can taste helado de paila, a traditional dessert that is quite refreshing.
We want to share the flavors that are traditional to the different regions of the country.
About helados de paila
I think that a good way to describe an helado de paila is as an Ecuadorian-style sorbet
Rosalía Suarez, created the recipe to the helados de paila 106 years ago in Ibarra. His great-grandson Ernesto discovered the ice creams a day when there had been a lot of hail in the city and, copying the way of preserving ice from the ice makers of Imbabura, she decided to put a paila (bronze pan) on a base of hail, salt, and straw, thus turning and beating the fruit juice on the paila. Paila ice creams, according to her great-grandmother’s original recipe, are made from fresh fruit, an exact amount of water, and sugar, which should not be too much, not too little, but just the right amount. Today they are still made on dry ice and necessarily in a bronze pan; the fruit, water, and sugar are beaten with a wooden spoon while the pan rotates.
What is required: stray, grain salt, a bronze pan, a wooden spoon, and fruit juice are all part of this recipe that keeps delighting the palates of Ecuadorians and foreigners alike.
You can try to make helados de paila at home by following this recipe.
If you are in South America, I would love to see your pictures.
What do they taste like
Due to the texture that might as well be described as being like an Ecuadorian-style sorbet, with a
refreshing and light flavor, where many are made from some of our exotic Ecuadorian fruits.
How and where to eat helados de paila
Here are some additional sweets to taste while you are in Ibarra
You can find this dessert for sale in restaurants and cafes in most of the highlands of the country, but specifically in Ibarra if you want to taste the Rosalia Suarez brand.
Make sure to delight your palate with some helado de paila when you visit Ibarra.
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!).
Have you had helado de paila? Leave your comment below!
If you enjoy the content, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing. It’s free, and it helps us. Every little bit will help fund our travels and continue to bring great content to our site!
Planning a trip soon? Comment below or send me an email. I can help you plan your trip.
PIN IT FOR LATER
Want to Learn to make some of these dishes and many more? Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America, This book 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.
