2024-04-19 06:59:51
Vendors at the Santa Clara market, in the north center of Quito, warn that the prices of some ingredients have already begun to rise.
Markets and supermarkets in Quito offer the ingredients of the traditional Holy Week dish, fanesca, in different presentations and prices. There are alternatives for different budgets.
Sellers at the Santa Clara market, in the north center of Quito, warn that the prices of some ingredients have already begun to rise, and are expected to continue rising in the coming days, due to the season. Salted cod is one of the typical ingredients in this dish; Although, it is also possible to replace it with other types of fish, such as corvina, sea bass or dorado.
And the grains?
According to tradition, fanesca is made up of 12 grains, although it is possible to prepare it with less. Among the essential ones are beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, broad beans, lupine and corn.
María Dolores Lema, legume seller at the Santa Clara market, in Quito, on March 20, 2024. Patricia González / PRIMICIAS
Other basic ingredients of this thick soup are pumpkin, sambo y onion. Some also call it melloco. Locals in the Santa Clara market sell the different grains and the melloco in small cases of about 14 ounces (0.87 pounds) per USD 1, and the pound bag in USD 1,50.
Market sellers say that grain prices have remained stable, but will begin to rise from Friday, March 22.
Of the main ingredients of fanesca, the young pea is the one that had the highest annual inflation as of February 2024, reaching 24.6%. Rice, which is used for one of the accompaniments – rice pudding – had an increase annual price increase of 38.6%.
The Megamaxi chain, which installed a small rack with fanesca products, sells a 500-gram package with a mix of grains (beans in different versions, pink and green peas, lentils and mote) for USD 2.50. Also offers peas or red beans in cans 425 grams from USD 1.50.
Prices start to rise
Sambo did increase in price in the Santa Clara market, since last week. Depending on the size, it is between USD 1,50 y USD 3. Before, you could find the smallest one at USD 0.50 and the large one at USD 1.50 or USD 2.
The price increase is due to the fact that the product also increased its cost for the market premises. Meanwhile, the squash is between USD 1 and USD 4, According to the size. Customers can also take half of the pumpkin and pay according to the weight.
Some sellers say that the price of this product has remained the same, while others point out that it began to rise since Monday, March 18. Another product that has increased in price for about three weeks is the paiteña onion. The pound is at USD 0.50, when it was previously at USD 0.40. This is because the price of a quintal rose from USD 30 to USD 40 for locals.
How much is the fanesca plate?
The price of the fanesca dish depends a lot on the place where it is going to be consumed.
A well-known fast food chain Offered at USD 10 in food courts. While in the Santa Clara market, in Quito, it can be found between USD 5 and USD 6.50.
Two people eat fanesca at the Santa Clara market, in Quito, March 20, 2024. Patricia González / PRIMICIAS
Hornados Aidita, a store in this market, offers it for USD 5, including the fig and cheese dessert.
But on Good Friday, the dish will also include molo and empanadas, so the price will rise to USD 8. Aida Granda, owner of the establishment, says that the ingredients to prepare a pot of fanesca cost her between USD 25 and 30. That pot enough for some 20 plates.