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A FOOD TRADITION

Gulf of Fonseca Cuisine

Gulf of Fonseca cuisine is a shared estuarine and coastal tradition linking southeastern El Salvador with neighboring Honduras and Nicaragua. Fishing and shellfish-gathering communities make use of finfish, shrimp, oysters, curiles and other mangrove shellfish, alongside maize, plantains, cassava, rice, tomatoes, onions, and citrus. Characteristic methods include grilling or frying fish, simmering seafood in broths, preparing shellfish cocktails, and curing fresh catches with lime and aromatics. Representative dishes include curiles or other shellfish preparations, ceviche, seafood soup, and fried fish with plantain or rice. The tradition reflects a connected gulf environment rather than an exclusive Salvadoran origin.

ONE DISH, DIFFERENT PLACES

How the dish changes by place.

Compare regional styles of dishes linked to this cuisine: the city or region, the local name and what changes in the bowl or on the plate. These are food traditions; individual cooks have their own versions.

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