Trying PANAMANIAN FOOD for the First Time (Rare Cuisine in LA!)

coconut milk

🥗Healthier: almond milk

💰Cheaper: regular milk

Almond milk is lower in calories and can be used in similar dishes.

beef

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: pork

Chicken is leaner and pork is often less expensive.

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: cottage cheese

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Visit Caribbean Seoul Kitchen in Los Angeles to try Panamanian food.

Start with the pargo frito (whole fried snapper fish), noting its crispy top and tender flesh.

Add plenty of lime juice to the fish before tasting.

Describe the fish as tender and crispy with a bread or cornmeal coating.

Move on to arroz con pollo (chicken rice), highlighting the orange rice and chicken pieces, including drumsticks and wings.

Taste the arroz con pollo, noting its savory flavor and the saltiness from the olives.

Introduce patakon (fried plantains) and fried yucca, mentioning the spicy sauce served with them.

Caution viewers about the spiciness of the sauce before tasting it.

Describe the patakon as crispy outside and soft inside, similar to potato.

Emphasize the need to eat fried yucca while it's hot for the best taste.

Describe the yucca as crispy outside and soft inside, almost creamy.

Introduce sankocho (rice soup) with chicken, rice, corn, and chocho, tasting it and noting its hearty flavor.

Describe the yucca in the soup as melting in the mouth, comparing it to boiled radish.

Finish with the yuca ball, which is a deep-fried yucca stuffed with ground beef, noting the steam and heat when cut open.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary