These easy traditional Panamanian recipes are some of my favorites, after my 3 months of voulenterring there I reall developed a taste for their food. There are many dishes that are shared across much of Central America but each is a little different. They can even be different from the area you are in when visiting any given country.
I always strive to gather recipes both from places I visit and eat as well as collecting old recipe books at flea markets. While I travel each of those books is scanned and transferred to the cloud so I always have them with me. Today sharing these with you will let you share some of my work with your family.
Panama is perhaps not the first place that comes to mind when one thinks about travel places that are renowned for their exquisite cuisine. But don’t be duped by this obscure culinary destination. Travelers are now finally realizing that Panama offers a variety of delicious, must-try snacks and beverages, something that locals have long valued. These are the top 20 traditional Panamanian recipes you shouldn’t miss, whether you’re heading to a beautiful beach getaway or touring vibrant Panama City.
A note about Laurel and I. We are 74 and 75 years old now and have been nomads since December of 2010. We have visited 150 of the 195 countries in the world during that 13 years. We collect recipes frome every country we visit and post them on our website. We hope to knock out those last 45 countries and become 2 of the only 400 or so people who have visited every country in the world. What that means to you is more great recipes.
20 Top Panamanian Recipes to Try
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1. Panamanian Carimañola
Carimañola, a traditional pastry from Panama, is a favorite sweet in the country. This traditional Panamanian recipe, which gained national renown after being perfected in the province of Bocas del Toro, is named after the province itself. The empanada known as a carimañola has a flaky crust and a filling of either ground pork or cheese. The filling is typically flavored with a variety of spices and herbs.
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2. Panamanian Ropa Vieja Stew
Ropa Vieja, a traditional stew from Panama, is a national favorite. Shredded beef is slow-cooked with a variety of veggies and spices to create this savory stew. White rice, black beans, and sweet plantains are common accompaniments to the dish, making for a hearty and substantial lunch.
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3. Panamanian Fruitcake
One of the most popular holiday desserts is the Panamanian fruitcake. Dried fruits and nuts such as raisins, cherries, apricots, and walnuts are baked into a dense and delicious cake. Rum or brandy is commonly used to saturate the cake, giving it a rich and celebratory flavor. It was during the colonial era that Europeans are thought to have brought the recipe for Panamanian fruitcake to the country. Yet, the recipe has evolved over time to include local ingredients and flavors, creating it a dessert that is really one-of-a-kind in Panama.
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4. Panamanian Ceviche de Corvina
Popular in Panama as an appetizer, Ceviche de Corvina is a typical traditional Panamanian recipe. Fresh corvina fish is marinated in lime juice and other seasonings to create a light and delicious dish. You can have this dish as an appetizer or a light supper, and it's best when served cold. Ceviche de Corvina is thought to have been created in Peru, but is now widely consumed throughout Latin America. Marinated in lime juice, salt, and other seasonings including onions, cilantro, and peppers, the meal is often served using fresh corvina fish.
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5. Panamanian Yucca Fries with Spicy Mayo
In Panama, a crowd-pleasing appetizer is Panamanian Yucca Fries with Spicy Mayo. Yucca, or cassava, is a root vegetable that is often used in South American cooking because of its high starch content. You may make a tasty and flavorful snack by peeling the vegetable, cutting it into strips, and frying it until it becomes crispy. Yucca Fries with Spicy Mayo are traditionally made by slicing the root vegetable into thin strips and deep-frying them until they are crisp and golden brown. The fries are salted and accompanied by spicy mayonnaise, which gives them a tart and savory kick.
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6. Panamanian Hot Sauce
The country's namesake hot sauce is always on the table when local fare is served. The delicious heat and intensity of habanero peppers are just two of the many peppers used to make the hot sauce. Typical ingredients for Panamanian spicy sauce include peppers, garlic, vinegar, and salt. Depending on how many peppers you use, the sauce can range from mild to fiery.
Adding flavor and heat, Panamanian hot sauce can be utilized in many different ways. It pairs well with ceviche, empanadas, and tamales, as well as burgers, sandwiches, and other foods for an extra touch of heat.
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7. Panamanian Mondongo
Mondongo, a traditional Panamanian recipe, is a go-to dish for many Panamanians on cold nights. Tripe, a sort of cow's stomach, is used to make a hearty stew that is seasoned with a wide range of vegetables and spices. Mondongo, a traditional dish from Panama, is thought to have been brought to the country by the Spanish during the colonial era. The dish has evolved over time to become uniquely Panamanian by using regional ingredients and spices.
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8. Panamanian Lengua Guisada
Lengua Guisada, or Panamanian tongue stew, is a traditional dish that is often eaten as a comfort food in Panama. Stew prepared from beef tongue, veggies, and seasonings. Lengua Guisada, a national dish of Panama, is thought to have been brought to the country by Spanish colonists. The dish has evolved over time to become uniquely Panamanian by using regional ingredients and spices.
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9. Panamanian Seafood Stew
Delicious and filling, Panamanian Fish Stew is a traditional Panamanian recipe. Fish, shrimp, and clams are used to make this seafood stew, which is then cooked in a broth created from a combination of vegetables and spices. Since fresh seafood abounds around the coasts of Panama, it stands to reason that this stew's roots are there, too. This dish highlights the diversity of Panamanian ingredients and flavors and the country's devotion to fish.
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10. Panama Canal Dessert
A popular sweet in Panama, the Panama Canal Dessert is an authentic and delectable take on the iconic Panama Canal. Cookies, vanilla custard, and chocolate are layered to make a delectable dessert that will please any sweet craving. Cookies, vanilla custard, and chocolate are generally layered in a dish to make this delicacy. After being prepared, the dish is chilled until firm, at which point it becomes a delightful and creamy dessert fit for any celebration.
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11. Panamanian Arroz Con Pollo
Panamanian Arroz With Pollo is a staple meal that exemplifies the country's fondness for rich, filling food. Chicken and rice are cooked with a variety of veggies and spices to make this flavorful and filling dish. Chicken is often cooked through in a saucepan while being sautéed with onions, garlic, and other vegetables. The rice and a spice mixture, often consisting of cumin and paprika, are then added to the saucepan. The ingredients are combined and cooked in a covered pot over low heat until the rice is soft and the flavors have blended.
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12. Panamanian Sancocho
Panamanian Sancocho is a traditional stew that is a popular traditional Panamanian recipe. The dish is made with a variety of meats, including chicken, beef, and pork, and is simmered with a blend of vegetables and spices, creating a rich and flavorful broth. The meat is first sautéed with onions, garlic, and other vegetables until it is cooked through. The stew is then seasoned with a blend of spices, including cumin and oregano, which add depth and flavor to the dish. Yucca, plantains, and corn are often added to the stew, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
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13. Panamanian Empanadas
Empanadas are one of my go-to snacks These savory pastries are a staple of Panamanian street cuisine, and they're great as a quick bite or as an appetizer for a large group. Traditionally, the dough for Panamanian empanadas is made from flour, salt, and water, and then rolled out into circles. You can use ground beef, chicken, or cheese to make the filling, and a variety of spices like cumin and paprika give it flavor.
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14. Panamanian Pork Stew
Home is where the pork stew is, and as a part time Panamanian, there's no place I'd rather be than eating a bowl of that. Pork is the star of this rich and satisfying stew, which is prepared by simmering it with a variety of vegetables and spices. Commonly used ingredients in a Panamanian pork stew include onions, garlic, and other aromatics that are sautéed with the meat until the meat is browned. The addition of yucca, potatoes, and plantains makes the stew a hearty and fulfilling dinner. After the pork has been cooked until it is tender and the flavors have merged, you will have a tasty and savory stew that is excellent for chilly or wet days.
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15. Panamanian Rum Cake - Sopa Borracha
I have a soft spot in my heart for rum cake or sopa borracha, a traditional Panamanian recipe. A typical Panamanian cake, this dish is drenched in a blend of rum and sugar for a rich and savory delight. A classic cake for Panamanian sopa borracha is formed from flour, sugar, and eggs and is then soaked in a syrup of rum, sugar, and citrus juice. The cake is soaked overnight so the flavors can combine and the cake becomes moist and flavorful.
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16. Panamanian Hojaldres
Weekends aren't complete without hojaldres, a traditional Panamanian breakfast treat. Pastries like this, which are both delicious and flaky, are a breakfast and snack mainstay in Panama. Scrambled eggs and a hot cup of coffee are common accompaniments to hojaldres, making for a hearty and delicious breakfast. You may make a delicious and filling snack by stuffing them with things like cheese, ham, or sausage. To truly appreciate the unique flavors of Panamanian food, one must consume hojaldres, which are emblematic of the country's long and varied culinary tradition.
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17. Panamanian Guacho de Mariscos
I enjoy preparing guacho de mariscos for festive occasions and gatherings with loved ones. Fish, shrimp, and clams are just some of the shellfish that go into this savory and filling stew, which is then cooked in a broth prepared from a combination of vegetables and spices.
Cooking the shellfish in a mixture of onions, garlic, and other vegetables is a standard step in the preparation of Panamanian guacho de mariscos. Then, a variety of spices, including cumin and achiote, are mixed together and used to season the stew, giving it a rich, complex flavor.
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18. Panamanian Bistec Picado
Bistec picado is a traditional Panamanian recipe that takes me back to my trip to Panama. Ground beef is sautéed in a mixture of veggies and spices to create this tasty and filling dish. Bistec picadois made by browning ground beef in a skillet with onions, garlic, and other vegetables. Spices such as cumin and paprika are added to the mixture for additional flavor and depth. It's common practice to add tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro to the mix, turning out a colorful and flavorful main course. The ingredients are put in a pot and cooked until the tastes have blended into a delicious and filling dish.
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19. Panamanian Arroz con Guandú y Coco
To this day, the smell of arroz con guandi y coco transports me back to my time in Panama with Laurel. As a mainstay of Panamanian cuisine, this tasty rice dish exemplifies the country's fondness for robust and varied flavors. Rice, pigeon peas, coconut milk, and a variety of spices like cumin and oregano are the standard ingredients of the traditional Panamanian dish arroz with guand y coco. To give the rice more flavor and depth, sofrito, a sauce consisting of onions, garlic, and peppers, is sometimes used.
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20. Panamanian Chicheme
During the warm summer months, I prefer cooling myself with a glass of chicheme, a traditional Panamanian recipe and drink in Panama. The sweet corn, milk, and cinnamon in this drink create a flavor profile all their own, making it a great example of Panamanian cooking. Panamanian chicheme is a sweet drink made by combining sweet corn, milk, cinnamon, and other spices. The drink is made by combining ingredients and chilling them till they become cold and pleasant, making it ideal for hot and humid weather.
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