Latin American Food

Flan is a popular custard dessert that is commonly associated with Central America and the Caribbean. The basic ingredients of what is considered "traditional" flan are evaporated and condensed...

Creme de papaya, or papaya cream, is an easy, delicious ice cream dessert from Brazil. It is a wonderful dessert for either a party or an intimate dinner and is quite visually impressive. This...

Yucca or cassava root is a tropical root vegetable grown in Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean. It is a valuable resource because it grows easily where other crops cannot. Its flavor...

Those fruits in the produce section resembling overgrown, black or green bananas are actually plantains. Black skin on a plantain indicates a sweet, ripe fruit ready for preparation. Unlike the...

Skirt Steak is an inexpensive cut from the short plate on a side of beef. Often marinated and grilled as fajitas. Let me give you a few pointers on How to Cook Skirt Steak

Sitting head-to-head with a coconut can at times seem almost as hopeless as staring at a can without a can opener. The fuzzy brown shell can appear to be an impenetrable fortress. So how do you...

Turnovers with meat feeling from Argentina are super-tasty and great for a snack or a meal to take to work.

Ropa vieja is a traditional Cuban version of meat, stewed with tomatoes, peppers, and onions. It is very delicious. Although typically served on steamed rice, ropa vieja may also be served on...

Graviola is the Portuguese term for the soursop (annona muricata), an evergreen tree found mostly in the rainforest of South America. It is also known by the Spanish term, guanabana.

This recipe and method has been passed down through several generations in Costa Rica where rice is a family staple and served at most meals. The difference between rice and really GREAT rice is...

If you like Caribbean cuisine and/or have friends from that region, you will love to prepare this recipe. Pasteles is a dish that involves a "masa" which is like a dough. That...

Want to look like a Brazilian? That one is a little tough: What exactly a Brazilian looks like is debatable for a country of nearly 190 million people that happens to be one of the most ethnically...

Brazil nuts grow in hard pods (called castaña pods) of about 10 to 25 individual nuts, each of which is then encased in its own shell. A Brazil nut can be cracked; you just have to know its...

Brazil nuts are both nutritious and tasty. They contain high levels of selenium, a trace mineral that acts as an antioxidant that fights cancer-causing, cell-damaging free radicals. They boost...

The ingredient guaraná is appearing on the labels of more and more health and energy products, but what is it? Guaraná is a berry of the Amazon rainforest that has been harvested for...

This simple but potent sauce for Mexican enchiladas is made with store-bought tomato sauce and spices you probably have on your pantry shelf already. Use this delicious condiment on enchiladas in...

For Hispanic teen girls, their 15th birthday--marking the year they become young ladies--is a celebration filled with tradition and rites of passage. The family throws a party, the young lady...

Guaraná powder comes from grinding the guaraná seed, a berry of the Amazon rainforest that provides natural stimulation from a high content of caffeine. Many labels market the caffeine...

Guaraná is a berry indigenous to the Amazon rainforest, and it has been harvested for centuries. It is a signature ingredient and flavor in Brazilian culinary culture, and, not unlike the...

This is an easy recipe for caramelized plantain bananas (platanos). If you've never cooked plantain bananas this way (or any way), you have been missing out on THE best side dish in Latin American...

While corn tamales started as a Mexican dish, the dish has spread throughout Latin America. These corn cakes are wrapped in husks or leaves and are usually served with meat inside of them, often...

Manioc root is a tuber indigenous to South America. In North America it is more commonly known as cassava root or tapioca, and in Latin America it is known as yucca. Manioc root is a miracle...

Chilean sopaipillas (pronounced so-pie-pee-yas) are savory pancakes made from fried dough. They are an immensely popular Chilean snack, and though everyone loves to eat homemade versions,...

"Tres leches" cake or "pastel de tres leches" (Spanish for "three-milk cake") is so named because it is a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk, topped off with a cloud or film of vanilla...

Ceviche is a delicious seafood dish. First created in the South American country of Peru, ceviche was a culinary secret that has only recently garnered international attention. Ceviche is...

Bananas and plantains are mistaken for one another on a regular basis but they couldn't be more different. They are both in the musa family, but there the similarities stop. Plantains have played...

This recipe happened when I planned on making Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas, and discovered I was out of chicken. So I used a pork tenderloin I had in the freezer, and guess what? A new family...

Jicama and black bean salad is a refreshing twist on mundane side dishes. Light tasting but full of robust flavors, the seasonings in this salad can be adapted to suit many kinds of cuisines as a...

Savory corn dough pockets stuffed with cheese, corn, or meat and wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves are specialties of El Salvador. These Tamales de Gallina are served up throughout the South...

Making tamales is a tradition for most Colombian families. It is a long process, with tamales being prepared the day before and marinated overnight. After steaming for three hours, your tamales...

In Honduras, you'll find a variety of dishes rooted in tradition that are rich in flavor. Similar to cuisines found throughout Latin America, the food in Honduras features flavors and textures...

The variety of Nicaraguan food matches with the diversity of the country's residents. Nicaraguan cuisine has been influenced by the Spanish, Creole, Garifuna and the indigenous people of Nicaragua...

There are many types of ceviches but this one came from my grandmother to my father then to me. It has been passed along for the last three generations and once you taste it you can't stop asking...

Learn to make quick and tasty Nuevo Latino(New Latino) chimichurri for your Churrasco steaks and/or Ribeye steaks. Add amazing flavor to your meat and to any Latino food. I also use it in my rice,...

Carimanolas are fried yuca wrapped around a savory filling; a favorite carnival food in Panama. You might also be lucky enough to find them as appetizers or breakfast food at local restaurants....

Panamanians love empanadas for any meal, for breakfast, snack or as a side dish. Sometimes they have sweet fillings like pineapple or mango. They are commonly sold by street vendors for un medio...

Chimichurri sauce is the center of any traditional Argentinian Asado (BBQ). Although the tast of the sauce is as varied as the makers themselves you will find this recipe to dazzle your guests....

With this tutorial, you will learn how to make a traditional brazilian rice using very simple ingredients. This recipe can be made on a normal cooking pot, or using a rice cooker.

Plantains, like bananas, grow wild in Panama, although many farmers also cultivate them. They are a cheap source of starch and make appearance in many traditional dishes. The most common way to...

Did you ever wonder what to do with those large, thick-skinned things that look like bananas but are called plantains? This article will introduce you to their versatile uses and how the uses...

Arroz con pollo (chicken fried rice) is a typical party food in Panama. It is generally served for birthdays and holidays with ensalada de papas (pink potato salad). It is often cooked over a...

Brazil nuts are hard to grow and are also hard to crack. Because efforts to grow Brazil nut trees on plantations have failed, the nut is truly a special treat. The trees grow only in the Amazon...

Fried Plantains is a very popular side dish in the Caribbean and very easy to make. In Puerto Rico it is known as "tostones", but in other Latin countries, like Panama, it is called...

Ensalada de Papas (Potato Salad) in Panama is a beautiful pink color because they throw in a beet. Don't let this discourage you from trying it. The beet adds more color than flavor. This is a...

Sancocho is a traditional Panamanian chicken soup flavored with culantro, oregano, onions and garlic. The Panamanians say you should eat Sancocho for lunch on hot days because it will help cool...

Chilean food typically consists of a mix of seafood and Spanish dishes with chili peppers, onions, garlic, pork and beef. A common Chilean dish is sopaipilla, which is deep-fried bread that is...

This is a Puertorican favorite we used to make in ice cube trays growing up. These are sold in Puerto Rico in disposable cups in a plethora of tropical flavors. Everyone will definitely love...

Cuban food is a mixture of Latin, Amerindian and African cuisine that incorporates the use of meats, beans and various spices and vegetables. It is popular in the United States and has developed a...

As any fan of Mexican food would know, "churritos locos" are one of the most delicious yet spicy, treats this culture has to offer. Churritos are fried rolls of corn flour and are really...

The steps are uncomplicated but you must pay close attention to what is going on inside the pot. Brazilian Rice is simple because it is always intended to be accompanied by beans.