Paila marina

Preparation

Onions, carrots, bell peppers and tomatoes are fried together in a pan before adding the fish and shellfish (with their shells kept on) and frying altogether until juices begin to run. Some recipes then add a further selection of shellfish, sometimes canned, with the shells removed, and extras like paprika and white wine.

Fish stock is poured over the fried ingredients and the soup is left to simmer until rich and flavorsome. Salt can be added to taste, though it is not always required, as the reduction of the liquid and the presence of the shellfish increase the saltiness of the dish. The soup can be served with a garnish of herbs, such as parsley.

Traditions

It is traditional for groups of friends or family go to the local seafood market and enjoy a paila marina, especially the morning after a party, when it is believed to aid recovery from a hangover. On January 1, the historic seafood market Mercado Central de Santiago is one of the busiest places in Santiago - Chilean national newspaper La Nación reported that 28,000 people were expected to visit the market on January 1, 2010. Popular belief also ascribes aphrodisiac properties to paila marina.

In popular culture

• In the episode "Abiquiu" of the US TV series Breaking Bad, the character Gus Fring, a prominent Chilean methamphetamine distributor in the southwest of the United States, prepares a Paila Marina for Walter White while explaining the origin of this typical Chilean dish. It is also featured in the TV series Better Call Saul.