Paila marina facts for kids
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| Type | Stew, soup |
|---|---|
| Course | Main |
| Place of origin | Chile |
| Region or state | Central Chile, Zona Sur, Chile |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Seafood, shellfish, fish, shellfish stock, herbs, spices |
Paila marina is a yummy and traditional Chilean seafood soup. It's often served in a special earthenware bowl called a paila. This soup is made with a tasty broth from shellfish and different kinds of fish. It also has lots of fresh herbs and spices, like paprika and parsley, to give it a great flavor.
How to Make Paila Marina
To make Paila marina, you start by frying some onions, carrots, bell peppers, and tomatoes in a pan. Next, you add the fish and shellfish (with their shells still on). You fry them all together until they start to release their juices. Some recipes also add extra shellfish, sometimes from a can, with the shells removed. They might also add paprika and white wine for more flavor.
After frying, fish stock is poured over everything. The soup then simmers (cooks slowly) until it becomes rich and full of flavor. You can add salt to taste, but often it's not needed. This is because the liquid reduces, and the shellfish naturally make the dish salty. When it's ready, you can serve the soup with fresh parsley on top.
What's in Paila Marina?
- Clams
- Chilean mussels
- Eels
- Machas (a type of mussel)
- Tunica rocks (a sea creature)
- Giant barnacles
- Shrimp
- Red bell peppers
- Onions
- Tomato
- Fish stock
- Parsley
- Paprika
- Salt and pepper (if needed)
- Habanero Peppers (optional, use a tiny bit!)
- Lemon (served on the side)
Paila Marina Traditions
It's a fun tradition in Chile for friends and families to go to a local seafood market and enjoy Paila marina together. This is especially popular the morning after a party. On January 1st, the famous seafood market called Mercado Central de Santiago in Santiago is one of the busiest places in the city. For example, on January 1, 2010, a Chilean newspaper reported that about 28,000 people were expected to visit the market that day!
See also
In Spanish: Paila marina para niños
