Broth, vegetables, chicken and a side of rice are some of the key ingredients in this typical Panamanian soup, but what reigns is the abundant use of the local spice of coriander. Since Panama was part of Gran Colombia, there are similarities between food from Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. So what are the most popular foods in Panama? Check out our list of the 25 most popular Panamanian dishes and a description of each dish. This is Panama's star dish.
And while it may seem crazy to eat chicken stew in such hot weather, it's the perfect meal for just about any occasion (and it's known as an excellent cure for hangovers and colds). Almost every culture has some kind of recipe for fried dough. The Panamanian version is called puff pastry, and it is a dough made from eggs and flour, which is usually left to rest overnight and fried fresh in the morning. A typical breakfast with sausages (sausages) or eggs and local cheese.
This is the Panamanian version of veal stew, cooked slowly with potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and onions. It's a complete meal in and of itself, though it's often served with rice or banana chips (patacones) as an accompaniment. With 2,857 km of coastline, Panama is a paradise for seafood lovers. This is the best dessert of grandmothers, a comforting flavor which brings back childhood memories.
Yucca (yuca) is one of the most popular root vegetables in Panama. It can be cooked or fried as a side dish, but it's also the key ingredient in carimañolas, a fried cassava fritter filled with minced meat or shredded chicken. An excellent snack for a quick bite to eat or to accompany drinks. Beef legs are cooked with several vegetables, such as corn, chayote (a vegetable pear, a pumpkin-like fruit), pumpkin, root vegetables, and herbs such as culantro.
Another jewel of the Caribbean side, this dish should be prepared 24 hours in advance, as the fish needs to be desalted (soak it in cold water that is changed frequently). Puff pastry is a delicious and versatile fried bread that is one of the most popular Panamanian fried foods. You can eat them simple, salty, sweet, with cheese, with “criolla” sauce or sugar with cinnamon. In 1501, the Spanish discovered the area that is now known as Panama.
With these Spaniards came enslaved Africans (who essentially created the country). Then, in 1821, this region was unified with Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela to be called “Gran Colombia”. Keep in mind that old clothing is also very popular in other countries in America, particularly in Cuba, where it is considered the national dish. Tortillas are also common throughout the Americas: each country has its own unique touch. Panamanian tortillas are thicker, circular, and are made from corn dough.
Tortillas are a native dish of indigenous Americans that dates back centuries, hence their prevalence throughout the continent. For example, in 1631, the famous explorer Diego Ruiz de Campos wrote about the consumption of tortillas by Native American inhabitants in villages near the Caimito River. The dish that made me fall in love with Panamanian food was veal stew with a side of puff pastry (fried bread) and 1 or 2 fried eggs. Honestly, I could never figure out what the official name of the dish was.
I think it's simply called beef stew (veal stew). Minced steak is another popular and delicious dish in Panama. It reminds me of a Chinese stir fry. Minced Steak is made from strips of veal marinated in garlic, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and then sautéed with vegetables such as red peppers, green peppers, carrots and onions. That's why there's a lot of similarity and overlap with traditional foods from Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
However, to truly experience our authentic tropical flavors, we invite you to try some of our traditional Panamanian dishes. These are some of the most famous traditional Panamanian food dishes that everyone should try to give them a real taste of this impressive country. While they often have a slightly golden color like in the photo, food coloring is sometimes used to make them a little elegant, along with additions such as almonds or pieces of dried fruit. Elmojabanos, an appetizer native to the province of Chiriqui, are made of corn and cheese, shaped like the letter “s”, and are fried.
An old man was too poor to buy food for his family, so he cooked his clothes and then prayed while boiling the laundry soup. Slowly but surely, Panama has earned its place among the main gastronomic capitals of Latin America, where it is possible to enjoy food from all over the world. Fish (or other seafood) is “cooked in a mixture of lemon juice, Scottish peppers, onions, and cilantro for a day or two, then usually served with soda crackers, fried bananas, or small baskets of wheat crackers. In the Caribbean part of Panama, you'll find lots of fish and seafood dishes with coconut and curry.
You'll also learn where you can try these foods in Panama City, Bocas del Toro, Boquete, Santa Catalina, and El Valle de Antón. On the Caribbean side, Panamanians eat more seafood and season a lot of things with coconut, while tubers, pork and poultry predominate in the mountainous interior. You'll find travel items to help you explore Panama's history, culture, food, and natural beauty.
