Caldo de gallina criolla - Chicken Soup in Loja Ecuador
Chicken soup is good for the soul. In fact, this global dish is good for whatever ails you. So what makes this soup special in Loja, Ecuador? The short answer is the prime ingredient: Loja’s criolla chickens. There is some variation in the other ingredients for ‘Caldo de gallina criolla’ or creole chicken broth depending on the Lojana chef, but if at all possible, start with this local favorite among backyard pullets. Of course, this begs the question of what exactly is a gallina criolla or creole chicken? Many will say the bird came from Spain during the colonial period, but recent testing has shown that Ecuadorian chickens share DNA with an Asian variety. What’s more, Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro recounts chickens already being present in the country among indigenous people when he arrived. Scientists speculate that Ecuador’s chickens are from polynesia coming on shore in Chile because this variety seems to be their closest relative. The criolla is small, does not require mu
