Monday, July 28, 2014

Barbeque in Ecuador - Parillada



To have a barbeque in Ecuador you need beef, chicken, pork chops and sausages.

You can only have one kind of sausages but you must have the three kinds of meat.

The sausages are usually chorizos but you can use other kind of sausages also.
You can also have other kind of meat, besides, but without these four things it is not a real parillada.

People in Ecuador love to eat meat.

Many times in restaurants my vegetarians friends have asked will they really be filled with just that.

And the restaurant owners have confided me that they really pity the vegetarians because they can't eat real food.

Here food isn't food, if it doesn't have some meat in it.
Parillada is a big social occasion.

Barbeque Marinade for the Ecuadorian Barbeque

Ingredients
  • 4-5 green peppers, seeded, deveined and cut in large chunks
  • 1 medium sized bunch of cilantro, which is about a little over 1 cup of packed cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • ½ to ¾ cup of oil (canola, olive or other), adjust based on how thick you want the salsa
  • Salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients in a mini food processor or blender, mix/blend until all the ingredients are completely crushed and the sauce is smooth. Make sure the sauce is blended well enough so that the oil is well mixed into the salsa.
  2. Use immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. The salsa is best if used the same day it’s prepared.
  3. To prepare the meat for the barbeque, brush the meat with the sauce until it’s covered all over. Leave the meat for few hours, or from the day before in the fridge, with the sauce before barbequing it.
Everyone participates in making it possible.

Even though taking part in the cooking is not traditionally for men, they make an exception when it comes to barbequing.

And of course, they are the only ones who really know how to light a fire for the barbeque - or so they claim.
I love to take part in an Ecuadorian barbeque.

It is always very special, and everyone has a lot of fun. 
 The idea of an Ecuadorian barbeque is to spend time together.

They are usually made for the extensive family or between very good friends.

Not for a party, because you won't have time to concentrate on anything else.

But there usually is a party afterwards, Ecuadorians never miss a chance for having a party.
We had a parillada with coworkers.

It is the perfect way to spend time together, because everyone is helping, taking part and having fun.

And the results are so delicious!
It takes a lot of work to make the barbeque happen.

Again, that was what the men wanted us to believe.
The working positions may not be as ergonimical as possible.

But everyone has their own style and favorite position.
And it is very important to be handy with the knife.

I have not seen many Ecuadorians use a chopping board.

And they still have all their fingers.

I would not be able to do the same.
The utensils might look a bit different to what you are used to.

But the nature around does provide you with what you need.

If you know where to look for it.
What would a barbeque be without the sides?

There was both people from the Amazon and Andes in the group.

So we had yucca (mandioca) and potatoes.

This is a big conflict between people here in Ecuador.

For the people from the Andes, potato is the right side for everything.

For the people from the Amazon and the Coastal region, yucca is the right one.

The banana leaf is desinfected in the smoke.

Then it is used as lid for the meat that is already prepared.

It is difficult to wait until everything is ready.

But it sure is worth the wait!
Besides the meat, the sausages, the potatoes and the yucca, we had salad, Hot Salsa or Ají and cheese salsa.

For drink we had Amazonic Guayusa ice tea, which is both delicious and healthy.

Hope you will have many happy and delicious occations with your family and friends!
 

32 comments:

  1. That is sooo delicious! I really want a vacation just like this.

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  2. Right I am misting on the plane to join , you , looks lovely

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  3. Wow, I am not a meat eater, but know that my hubby would love this

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  4. This is awesome. I was born in Chile but raised in America. I love seeing the traditions and customs of other cultures. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. It all looks delicious. I love BBQs. We've been having them quite often just lately seeing as we're being blessed with such a lovely hot summer :)

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  6. That looks so tasty! Typical men getting involved in the BBQ'ing! x

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  7. wow! BBQ's are always good and this one looks fantastic

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  8. I love trying foods from different countries - thank you so much for sharing this BBQ info!

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  9. What a great meal and I would gladly put a little too much BBQ on it too.

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  10. Wow! Everything looks so tasty there :)

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  11. I'm a veggie, so I quickly scrolled past the meat pictures but I'm impressed by the knife skills!

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  12. Looks like a great spread! I'll bet it was delicious!

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  13. It sounds so delicious and heathy too! Can't wait to try it.

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  14. I do like the ingredients and especially the cilantro!

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  15. Oh yum what a delicious looking BBQ yum. x

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  16. Reminds me of jerking in Jamaica. Jerk chicken, fish and pork

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  17. I have always said food isn't food if it doesn't have some meat with it. I love learning about different cultures and things. Thank you for the information.

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  18. I had never heard of Parillada! That sounds awesome! I hope to go to Ecuador one day!:)

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  19. Wow this food looks really amazing! I would love to attend a BQQ in equador

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  20. It looks delicious! I love the line: food isn't food, if it doesn't have some meat in it - my husband would agree 100% with that!

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  21. It all looks wonderful! It is so wonderful that everyone is getting involved. Sometimes here, it is just easy to get ready food and put it straight on to cook and not really prepare anything or push the boat out for how the food is prepared x

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  22. This looks like a real feast and totally delicious! That marinade sounds fab too thanks for sharing!! x

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  23. Your blog post is mouth watering, I'm sure I can smell it from here!

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  24. Heavy on the meat! Aaron would LOVE it. I love the way the fan is moving so fast it is literally a BLUR x

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  25. Now this is my kind of BBQ, meat and more meat! The beef and the chicken looks so juicy!

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  26. Looks like a perfect barbecue to me! Super yummy! :)

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  27. BBQ's are always a great idea for a get together! x

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  28. I love a BBQ...and it sounds like the Equadorians know how to do it in style. That food looks yummy!

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  29. Wow, love this huge bowl with salad in the middle!

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  30. WOW - they really go to town on their barbecues!

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  31. Oh wow that food looks amazing! I love BBQ's and that food is making my tummy rumble!

    Thanks for linking up to #TBTL Hope to see you this week

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