Fanesca

Fanesca is a rich soup eaten in Ecuador during Holy Week. It is prepared with twelve different kinds of beans, which represent the twelve apostles of Jesus, including lupines, fava beans, lentils, peas, corn and others, together with salt cod cooked in milk, It is usually garnished with hard boiled eggs, fried plantains, cheese, herbs,  and sometimes empanadas, too.The yellow colour is given by achiote, a natural orange-red condiment, which mixed with milk becomes yellow.

The making and eating of fanesca is considered a family event, although many restaurants were serving it last week, when I was in Ecuador.