Virtual Traveler: The 7 Snacks You Must Eat in Ecuador’s Otavalo Market

One of the best ways to get to know a country, a city, a neighborhood, is to go the market. There you’ll see what’s fresh, what’s seasonal, how people shop and eat, and have the opportunity to chat with vendors, farmers, artisans, chefs, and hungry locals. So while in Ecuador, make sure to hit up the Otavalo Market (in the town of Otavalo), the largest in the country. It is also the one most visited by tourists, largely thanks to its enormous selection of handicrafts such as ponchos, sweaters, hammocks and hats.

Related: Virtual Traveler: Take a Tour of Sasquisili, Ecuador’s Indigenous Market

Enjoy strolling around the plaza, wriggling your way through alleys crowded with stalls selling sombreros, shoes and belts, and you might also want to take a look at the animal market. Don’t worry about getting hungry or thirsty: stalls, vendors with carts and shops around the market sell all kinds of snacks, meals and fresh, healthy juices. [pagebreak]

1. Churos

If you read that as churros, this will be a surprise. Churos (pictured above) are tiny snails, sold for the equivalent of 50 cents per bag and are eaten with onion, lemon, salt, and cilantro. According to the vendor eating churos is good for your kidneys.

2. Queso con miel

Another savory bite is this chunk of fresh cheese flavored with naranja (right). If not sweet enough, add the contents of the little container to the cheese: miel de panela, a honey-like substance made of raw sugar.

3. Empanadas

Milk production is an important part of the economy in this part of the country. Like milk, cheese is popular among locals, fresh cheese that is; soft and mild in flavor like cottage cheese. Among the snacks made with it are deep fried empanadas with cheese inside. Though of course, you’ll find empanadas with more typical fillings like ham and chicken.[pagebreak]

4. Obleas

Though this isn’t a traditional Ecudorian snack, you’ll find obleas in most Andean countries. They are thin wafers (like crepes) filled with chocolate, marmalade, or manjar (also known as dulce de leche), making it a super-sweet snack.

5. Higos dulce con queso fresco

If you are not used to combining sweet and savory in one bite, this may sound odd: figs with fresh cheese (right). The figs are soaked and subsequently cooked in miel de panela with cinnamon, cloves, and other spices. It’s a typical dessert of Ecuador but here on the market, you can also find it served on bread. 

6. Fruit

Ecuador is a fruit country and because of its diversity in landscapes – coast, highlands, and Amazon rainforest – the choice is abundant. Take your pick from mangos, bananas, pineapples, chirimoyas, tumbos, or guyabas. Many types of fruit are commonly sold from wheelbarrows, so just flag down a vendor and enjoy.

7. Llapingachos

Llapingachos are made of mashed potatoes and are like fritters with a surprise filling (like rellenos de papa). If they’re tortillas de papa, they may be served as a side dish with a meat dish or eaten as a snack. Or they may be filled with cheese and onion or scallions, and may be prepared in a frying pan or on a hot griddle. Like most classic recipes, everyone has their own interpretation.