Discover Different Taste Sensations With Latin American Cooking Recipes

By Christa Jarvis


If you can't stomach the idea of cooking the same old boring meal yet again, it's time to get creative. Cooking should be fun, after all, and not a chore. A good way to inject something different into mealtimes is to try a couple of Latin American cooking recipes. They don't always require ingredients that you can only find in specialty stores and the dishes are simple to make. Moreover, they're not so exotic that the kids will insist on ordering pizza instead.

When most people think of Latin American food, they think of tacos or burritos. These are Mexican but the region actually has much more to offer in culinary terms. After all, it covers many different countries and landscapes that vary from the highest mountains to sweltering coastal plains. The incredible variety of ingredients has meant that you'll find several distinctly different regional cuisines within the same country.

Many foods that today are found everywhere in the world originally came from the Americas. They include avocados, chocolate and tomatoes. Probably the most important contribution to the world's food resources has been the cultivation of corn, which originated in Central America and is still the starch of choice here. People use it for making the ever-popular tortilla but also for different variations of tamales and pupusas.

The Americas also gave the world the potato, which is enjoyed everywhere but especially in the highlands of the Andes, where it came from. In the more tropical areas, you'll find plantains instead and a root known as manioc is used especially in the Caribbean. Rice is popular too and in some countries you'll find rice and beans with every meal, even breakfast. A variety of vegetables are used to add nutritional value and color.

For protein, people tend to opt for meat or fish, depending on where they live. Beef is ubiquitous in Argentina and Paraguay while in many other countries, pork is more popular. Chicken is cheap and used in dishes from Mexico to Patagonia. The Peruvian national dish of ceviche, which is made with raw fish and lime juice, has become so popular that you'll now find it in most coastal towns as well as at lakeside locations.

Some desserts are found throughout Latin America, with only slight regional variations. These include dulce de leche and flan, as well as tres leches cake. At certain times of the year, for instance during Holy Week, you'll also be able to find seasonal specialties.

One of the greatest things about the region is the variety of delicious fruits to be found here. These make for a healthy, nutritious snack. They're also very tasty when blended into drinks similar to smoothies. In some areas, people make tasty, creamy drinks by using corn or rice as well. Rum is a popular alcoholic drink.

Food websites are great places to look for recipes from Latin America. Another option is to find specialty recipe books. A fun way to learn how to cook like a true Latina, though, is to visit the region and enroll in some cookery classes.




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