Highland Trout Encocado with Tender Hominy and Pumpkin Seed Chili

Name: Highland Trout Encocado with Tender Hominy and Pumpkin Seed Chili
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Ecuatoriana
Ingredients: 1.5 lb trout fillets; 2 tbsp lime juice; 1 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp achiote oil; 1 1/4 cups red onion; 1 cup red bell pepper; 4 cloves garlic; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro; 1 2/3 cups coconut milk; 3/4 cup fish stock or water; 3 cups cooked hominy; 1 1/2 tbsp butter; 1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds; 1 small mild red chili or fresh chili; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 2 tbsp water

An original Ecuadorian recipe that brings together fresh Andean trout with a creamy coconut sauce and gentle achiote refrito, served over tender hominy and finished with a homemade pumpkin seed chili sauce. It blends coastal and highland flavors into a balanced, aromatic, homey dish.

25 minPrep

35 minCook

60 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g trout fillets (without espinas, with or skinless)
30 ml lime juice (for sazonar the trucha)
8 g salt (divided, or to taste)
2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
30 ml achiote oil (divided)
180 g red onion (finely chopped, divided)
120 g red bell pepper (chopped diced small)
12 g garlic (chopped or majado, divided)
2 g ground cumin
20 g fresh cilantro (chopped, divided)
400 ml coconut milk (without sugar)
180 ml fish stock or water
500 g cooked hominy (escurrido)
20 g butter
40 g toasted pumpkin seeds (for the ají)
20 g mild red chili or fresh chili (without semillas if desired menos picante)
15 ml apple cider vinegar (for the ají)
30 ml water (for licuar the ají)

Nutrition facts

per serving

482 kcal

Calories

34 g

Protein

21 g

Carbs

29 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

17 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

DairyFish

Instructions

1
1. Season the trout fillets with the lime juice, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and the black pepper. Let them rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
2
2. For the pumpkin seed chili sauce, blend the toasted pumpkin seeds with the mild red chili, 2 tablespoons of the chopped onion, 1 garlic clove, the apple cider vinegar, the water, and a pinch of salt until thick but pourable. Set aside.
3
3. Heat 1 tablespoon of achiote oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half of the onion, half of the garlic, and all of the red bell pepper. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the onion turns translucent and the pepper softens.
4
4. Stir in the cumin, half of the cilantro, the coconut milk, the fish stock or water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium-low heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce comes together and develops flavor.
5
5. Meanwhile, heat another skillet with the remaining tablespoon of achiote oil over medium-high heat. Sear the trout fillets for 2 minutes per side, just until lightly golden.
6
6. Transfer the seared trout to the coconut sauce skillet. Cook over low heat for 5 to 7 minutes more, spooning sauce over the fillets, until cooked through and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
7
7. In a small pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the remaining onion and remaining garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the cooked hominy, a pinch of salt, and 60 ml (1/4 cup) water if it seems dry. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until tender and glossy. Stir in the remaining cilantro at the end.
8
8. If you want to keep the dish warm before serving, place it in an oven at 200 °F / 95 °C for up to 10 minutes, without continuing to cook it.
9
9. To serve, divide the tender hominy among shallow bowls, place the trout fillets on top, spoon over plenty of coconut sauce, and finish with spoonfuls of the pumpkin seed chili sauce to taste.

Chef tips

Lightly toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet before blending to deepen their flavor. Do not boil the trout hard in the sauce so it stays moist and delicate.

Substitutions

You can replace trout with firm sea bass or tilapia. If you cannot find hominy, use cooked white corn. The butter can be replaced with more achiote oil for a dairy-free version.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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