Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Panama

Panama’s food is built around crossroads cuisine of culantro-scented sancocho, fried breakfasts, corvina ceviche, and coconut rice dishes. Look for Sancocho de gallina (free-range chicken soup with ñame and culantro; national dish), Hojaldre (fried dough eaten with eggs, cheese, or sausage) and Carimañola (yuca fritter stuffed with seasoned ground beef). Panama’s national dish: yard hen simmered with ñame and plenty of culantro, associated above all with the Azuero peninsula. This atlas has 33 Panama dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

33 dishes.

AlmojábanosAlmojábanosS-shaped corn fritters with fresh cheeseArroz con cocoArroz con cocoCaribbean sweet-savory caramelised coconut rice, served alongside fried fishArroz con guandúArroz con guandúCoconut rice with pigeon peas, a holiday stapleBienmesabeBienmesabeThick sweet of milk, rice flour and sugar cooked slowly and spooned coldBollosBollosBoiled corn-dough rolls wrapped in husksCarimañolaCarimañolaTorpedo-shaped fried cassava dough stuffed with seasoned beef or fresh cheeseCerveza BalboaCerveza BalboaPale lager named for the conquistador, drunk cold in the heatCeviche de corvinaCeviche de corvinaSea bass marinated in lime, onion, and hot pepperChicha de arroz con piñaChicha de arroz con piñaCold drink of ground rice, pineapple and cinnamon, thick and sweetChicha de sarilChicha de sarilDeep red hibiscus drink spiced with ginger and cloves at ChristmasChicha fuerteChicha fuerteStrong fermented maize drink served at village and Indigenous festivalsChichemeChichemeSweet corn-milk drink with cinnamon, famed in La ChorreraChocao panameñoChocao panameñoRipe plantain cooked in coconut milk with ginger into a loose porridgeCocadaCocadaGrated coconut cooked with sugar and panela into chewy moundsFufúFufúCoconut milk fish soup with green plantain and tubersGeisha coffeeGeisha coffeeDelicate jasmine and bergamot coffee grown on Boquete's volcanic slopesGuachoGuachoSoupy rice stew with beans, pork tail, or seafoodHojaldreHojaldreFried dough eaten with eggs, cheese, or sausageHuevitos de lecheHuevitos de lecheLittle milk-fudge sweets rolled into egg shapes and dusted with sugarPataconesPataconesTwice-fried green plantain discs with salt, cheese or hogaoPesada de nancePesada de nanceNance fruit cooked with sugar and cornstarch into a set golden puddingPescado fritoPescado fritoWhole fried fish with patacones at beach fondasPlátano en tentaciónPlátano en tentaciónRipe plantains simmered in sugar, cinnamon and cloves until darkRaspaoRaspaoShaved ice with fruit syrups and condensed milkRon AbueloRon AbueloAged Panamanian rum with vanilla and toffee notes, sipped neatSancocho de gallinaSancocho de gallinaFree-range chicken soup with ñame and culantro; national dishSausSausPigs' feet pickled with lime, onion, cucumber and hot pepperSeco con vacaSeco con vacaSeco Herrerano poured over ice with milk, sometimes a little sugarSeco HerreranoSeco HerreranoClear sugarcane spirit drunk with milk or in shots with limeSopa borrachaSopa borrachaSponge cake drenched in rum and sugar syrup with prunes and raisinsTamal de ollaTamal de ollaPot-baked corn tamale casserole with chicken and olivesTorrejitas de maíz nuevoTorrejitas de maíz nuevoFritters of freshly ground young corn, fried and eaten with cheeseTulemasiTulemasiFish and plantain simmered in coconut milk, eaten with rice

  • Fufú

    Coconut milk fish soup with green plantain and tubers. Ready in 30 min prep and 45 min cooking. Serves 6.…

  • Almojábanos

    S-shaped corn fritters with fresh cheese. Ready in 25 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking. About 16 fritters. A snack…

  • Arroz con guandú

    Coconut rice with pigeon peas, a holiday staple. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 45 minutes cooking. Serves 8. A…

  • Arroz con coco

    Caribbean sweet-savory caramelised coconut rice, served alongside fried fish. Ready in 15 min prep and 45 min cooking. 6 servings.…

  • Bienmesabe

    Thick sweet of milk, rice flour and sugar cooked slowly and spooned cold. Ready in 15 min prep and 45…

  • Bollos

    Boiled corn-dough rolls wrapped in husks. Ready in 30 min prep and 2 hr cooking. 12 bollos. A snack recipe…

  • Ceviche de corvina

    Sea bass marinated in lime, onion, and hot pepper. Ready in 30 minutes prep and none cooking. Serves 6. A…

  • Cerveza Balboa

    Pale lager named for the conquistador, drunk cold in the heat. A wine & spirit recipe from Panama.

  • Chicha fuerte

    Strong fermented maize drink served at village and Indigenous festivals. A wine & spirit recipe from Panama.

  • Chicha de saril

    Deep red hibiscus drink spiced with ginger and cloves at Christmas. Ready in 10 minutes prep and 20 minutes cooking.…