Fanesca Soup, from Ecuador

Fanesca is a traditional Ecuadorian soup of unmatched flavors. It is prepared a week before Easter with main ingredients being a pumpkin, fig leaf gourd, and twelve different kinds of grains and beans such as peas, lentils, corn, and chocho beans. The twelve grains and beans are a representation of twelve apostles of Christ, and the bacalao symbolizes Christ himself.

In Ecuador, Fanesca is consumed at midday; the whole process of making and eating of the Fanesca is undertaken as a family or social activity.