Paila marina

Paila marina is a traditional Chilean seafood soup or light stew usually served in a paila (earthenware bowl). It usually contains a shellfish stock base cooked with different kinds of shellfish and fish. These are complemented with a variety of herbs and spices such as paprika and parsley.

Preparation
Onions, carrots, bell peppers tomatoes, fish and shellfish (in the shell) are fried together, fish stock is poured over them and the soup is simmered.

Traditions
It is traditional for groups of friends or family to 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. Gus Fring also prepares a paila marina in the episode "Something Stupid" from the Breaking Bad prequel TV series Better Call Saul.