Encebollado is a beloved Ecuadorian fish stew known for its rich, comforting flavors and vibrant ingredients.
This hearty dish, often considered Ecuador’s national soup, combines tender chunks of albacore or tuna, yuca, and tangy red onions in a flavorful, aromatic broth.
Traditionally enjoyed for breakfast or as a remedy for a night out, Encebollado is a staple in Ecuadorian cuisine that captures the essence of Ecuador’s fresh seafood and bold spices.
In this recipe, you’ll learn how to bring the authentic taste of Ecuador into your kitchen with simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps as well as all the details of the famous Encebollado.
What Is “Encebollado”?
Encebollado is Ecuador’s national dish, a flavorful and comforting seafood stew that brings together the essence of coastal Ecuadorian cuisine.
The name Encebollado translates to “onioned” in Spanish, referring to the onions traditionally served on top, which give the dish its unique look and texture.
However, onions are not the main ingredient—the real stars are fresh tuna, hearty yuca (cassava), and a carefully chosen mix of spices, including cilantro, which is often considered the “secret ingredient” that elevates the dish’s flavor.
This Ecuadorian classic stew has a fascinating history, believed to have originated on fishing boats where ingredients were limited to what was on hand: fish, water, and onions.
Encebollado is more than a meal; it’s a reflection of Ecuador’s coastal life and culinary ingenuity.
It’s a seafood dish enjoyed at any time of day—breakfast, lunch, or dinner—and offers warmth, nutrition, and rich flavor in every bowl.
Today, Encebollado can be found in various regional forms, each adding its own twist while keeping the core ingredients intact.
For Ecuadorians, and now for food lovers worldwide, Encebollado has become an unforgettable dish, one that embodies the vibrant tastes and traditions of Ecuador.
How Can I Make Encebollado?
Now without further ado, let’s get to the point and learn how to make Encebollado.
This fish stew recipe is rich in spices, but it’s not spicy at all.
The ingredients are suitable for 4 to 6 people, and it takes around 90 minutes to be ready.
It’s all cooked in one pot, so fewer dishes to be done. Perfect!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of cut fresh tuna
- 1 pound of peeled and cut yuca
- 2 tbsp of sunflower oil
- 2 diced tomatoes
- 1 diced red onion
- 2 tsp of paprika
- 2 tsp of ground cumin
- 8 cups of water
- 5 chopped cilantro sprigs
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Encebollado Recipe
- Get a large pot and heat the oil
- Add the onion, tomato, cumin, and paprika
- Stir the ingredients for 3 or 4 minutes, but make sure not to fry them; we only need them to be sauteed
- Add the water and cilantro
- Raise the heat to boil
- Add the chunks of yuca
- Reduce the heat and let the yuca cook for 15 to 20 minutes
- Now add the tuna and simmer the ingredients for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the tuna and yuca are cooked
- Add salt and pepper
- Serve into colorful soup bowls and Bon Appetit
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Encebollado
Knowing the Encebollado recipe and ingredients is never enough to cook a meal.
I prefer looking through the tips and tricks of how to make it.
There are always things to keep in mind, and knowing them ahead can spare you endless times of trial and error.
Tuna
The recipe requires fresh tuna, however, you can always go for canned tuna to save some time.
Eventually, they both taste fine, but I prefer fresh tuna since it’s healthier.
Moreover, you can use other fish instead of tuna, like salmon for example.
Yuca
When it comes to yuca, I always prefer a fresh option.
However, it’s not always accessible everywhere.
Keep in mind that if you’re getting frozen yuca, it’ll take more time to cook (from 30 to 40 minutes.)
If you’re able to find fresh yuca, then there are some things to be aware of.
Make sure you peel it well to remove any pinkish layer under the brown one.
Also, when you’re cutting it, remove the stringy core.
Some people would cook the yuca, then set it aside, remove the core, and add it to the final soup.
It’s one way to do it, but I think it takes more time than just cooking everything together.
Spices
The recipe states you should use paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper, right? But who says you can’t add more?
Feel free to add the combination of spices that you prefer, for all I know it’s your soup.
Cilantro
Change whatever you want, but please don’t change the cilantro. This is the main ingredient in the Encebollado.
It’s commonly used in most dishes in Ecuador, and you can always add celery or parsley to it if you please.
Other Ways to Cook the Ecuadorian Stew
The Encebollado is a delicious soup, and it has more than one variation so that you can customize it to your taste.
The Vegan Encebollado
My brother is vegan, so sometimes we need to look through variations to “veganize” the meals. Luckily, this was easy to do with the Encebollado.
The soup itself has vegetables and spices that are suitable for vegans, so changing the tuna won’t be that huge of a difference.
The idea here is that you’ll cook your soup as per the recipe, minus the tuna. You can also add some chickpeas with the yuca.
The Chicken Encebollado
This variation is suitable if you don’t like sea-food, or if you want some change in your soup.
You’ll need to get 2 pounds of chicken and cut it into chunks. Then you should marinate them and cook them in a hot pan with oil.
The chicken will start turning white and then a bit golden; that’s how you know they’re done.
After that, go through with the regular Encebollado recipe and add the cooked chicken in the end.
What Goes with Ecuadorian Seafood Dish?
Encebollado can be served with different toppings, so you can cook one pot, and eat it in more than one way.
I like that because just one different topping can change the taste entirely.
In addition to that, if you’re inviting some friends over, it’s always nice to make all the toppings and let them choose what they prefer.
Don’t worry, they’re all easy to prepare.
Cebolla Encurtidas (Pickled Onions)
Cebiollas Encurtidas, pickled onions, go with different dishes in Latin cuisine.
Here’s what you’ll need to make them.
Ingredients
- 2 sliced red onions
- Juice of 3 or 4 limes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Recipe
- Put the sliced onions in a large bowl
- Cover them with boiling water
- Leave them for 15 minutes
- Drain the onions and rinse them with cool water
- Add the lime juice, salt, and pepper to the onions
- Refrigerate for 3 hours or more before eating
Chifles
Chifles are banana or plantain fried chips. It’s a famous snack and it only takes 15 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
- Green bananas or plantains
- Oil for deep frying
- Salt
Recipe
- Peel the bananas or plantains
- Slice them into thin slices
- Heat the oil, then deep fry the slices
- Make sure you fry a few at a time so as not to stick together
- When they have a golden color, remove them from the oil
- Let them drain on paper towels
- Add salt to taste
Cancha
Cancha or corn nut is one of the toppings served with the Encebollado.
It’s a popular snack in Ecuador and Peru, and it’s very tasty.
You can buy corn nuts, but there’s always a way to make them at home, and it’s quite easy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of maíz chulpe
- 3 tbsp of olive or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp of salt
Recipe
- Heat the oil in a large pan
- Add the chulpe and cover the pan as if you’re making popcorn
- Shake it every now and then
- When the chulpe pops and turns into a golden color that’s your cue to turn off the heat
- Add salt for taste
Note: Sometimes, you can use popcorn. Yes, you read it right. I was astonished when I found out that popcorn is used as a topping for the Encebollado.
Why Encebollado is a Must-Try Dish in Ecuadorian Cuisine
Encebollado is more than just a meal—it’s a flavorful journey into the heart of Ecuadorian culture and tradition.
This iconic South American dish, with its tender fish, hearty yuca, and vibrant seasonings, brings together comforting textures and bold flavors that showcase the best of Ecuador’s coastal cuisine.
Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast, lunch, or as a delicious pick-me-up, Encebollado is sure to become a favorite.
So gather your ingredients, follow this recipe, and experience the rich, satisfying taste of Ecuador right in your own kitchen.
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Jorge Garcia is the founder of AmigoFoods, where he has spent over 20 years helping readers discover authentic Latin American and Spanish cuisine. Raised in a Cuban-American household, Jorge learned to cook at the hands of his mother and grandmother, carrying forward generations of family recipes. That heritage, backed by his family’s four-generation history in the Latin food industry, inspired him to launch AmigoFoods in 2003. With more than 1,000 published articles on recipes, ingredients, and food culture, Jorge’s mission is simple: make authentic Latin cooking approachable for home cooks everywhere while honoring the traditions behind every dish.