Faneska
QUITO, April 17 (RHC) – Fanesca is a flagship dish and tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times, during Lent and Easter in Ecuador.
The topicality of this broth is characterized by its ingredients, its method of preparation and finally by the fact that it manages to bring together families or groups for long hours of preparation and then around the table in a time of reflection, prayer and unity.
“We are mestizo and the result of 500 years of history, the indigenous and Spanish heritage, the African mix and the migrations that have taken place, resulting in a hodgepodge that is also carried into gastronomy,” he told Prensa Latina Juan Carlos Sánchez, from the San Ignacio restaurant, in the historic center of Quito.
Sánchez, professional engineer and current manager of said gastronomic establishment, calls the recipe a baroque dish because it’s like that era of culture and art: ornate and sumptuous, but well made and very elegant.
The syncretism in the Fanesca is given by the inclusion of elements brought from Spain, such as cod, in a typical indigenous broth that mixes several grains and is cooked after harvest, in recognition of Mother Earth for her provision of food to the people. .
There are several myths about the origin of the name of the dish, as well as its importance in the religious order, as it connects the 12 different grains to the apostles who accompanied Jesus at the last supper before his crucifixion.
Some historians even identify each item (beans, peas, corn, chickpeas, lentils, and other beans) with one of the disciples and hold that the cod represents Jesus of Nazareth.
Faneska
The hearty stew with pumpkin, peanuts and herbs such as coriander and oregano is completed with cheese, dumplings or flour balls and for dessert it is accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes (molo) and rice pudding or figs with cheese.
Scholars agree that stew is typical of Ecuador, and regardless of its origin, the ritual of preparing fanesca unites families in the kitchen in a special moment of gratitude. (Source: Sinay Cespedes Moreno/ PL)