Fanesca

Name: Fanesca
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 180 min
Yield: 10 servings
Cuisine: Ecuadorian
Ingredients: 200g dried salt cod, soaked and flaked; 1 cup each: fava beans, lupini beans, lentils, white beans, chickpeas, field peas; 1 cup each: corn kernels, rice, chopped green beans, peas, lima beans, chopped squash; 1L whole milk; 1 cup heavy cream; 200g queso fresco; 1 onion, diced; 4 cloves garlic; 2 tbsp ground peanuts; 1 tsp cumin; 1 tbsp achiote oil; Salt, pepper; Hard-boiled eggs, fried plantain, empanadas for garnish

Fanesca (fah-NEHS-kah)

Holy Week Grain and Bean Soup

⏱ Prep Time 60 min

📈 Difficulty Hard

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 566 kcal

A once-a-year ceremonial soup made with twelve grains and legumes, salt cod, and a rich milk-based broth, served only during Easter — Ecuador's most sacred dish.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 30.0g

Carbs 62.0g

Fat 22.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian gluten-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy ⚠ fish ⚠ nuts

Equipment Needed

very large pot blender multiple saucepans

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep ceramic bowl

Garnishes: hard-boiled egg, fried plantain, mini empanada

Accompaniments: molo (mashed plantain)

Ingredients

200g dried salt cod, soaked and flaked
1 cup each: fava beans, lupini beans, lentils, white beans, chickpeas, field peas
1 cup each: corn kernels, rice, chopped green beans, peas, lima beans, chopped squash
1L whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
200g queso fresco
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic
2 tbsp ground peanuts
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp achiote oil
Salt, pepper
Hard-boiled eggs, fried plantain, empanadas for garnish

Instructions

1
Soak all dried beans and grains overnight. Cook each separately until tender. Drain.
2
Soak salt cod 24 hours, changing water three times. Shred into pieces.
3
Make a refrito: sauté onion, garlic in achiote oil with cumin. Add ground peanuts.
4
Combine all cooked grains and beans in the large pot. Add refrito and milk.
5
Add salt cod. Simmer gently 20 min, stirring carefully. Add cream and cheese.
6
Serve in bowls garnished with hard-boiled egg, fried plantain, and mini empanadas.

💡

Did You Know?

The twelve grains in fanesca represent the twelve apostles — preparing it is considered a spiritual act, and families spend the entire day cooking it together.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

very large pot
blender
multiple saucepans

Garnishing

hard-boiled egg, fried plantain, mini empanada

Accompaniments

molo (mashed plantain)

The Story Behind Fanesca

Fanesca is Ecuador's most culturally significant dish, a pre-Columbian harvest celebration that was syncretized with Catholic Holy Week traditions. The twelve grains symbolize the apostles, and the salt cod represents Christ. Preparing fanesca is a communal ritual requiring multiple days of soaking, cooking, and assembling. It is served exclusively during Semana Santa.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed semana santa (holy week) only 📜 Origins: Colonial-indigenous fusion

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