Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Discover New Tastes With Latin American Cooking Recipes

By Christa Jarvis


Eating the same type of food day after day can become really boring. Cooking also becomes nothing more than a chore when you're always making the same old stand-by dishes. To rediscover the joys of the kitchen, it might be time to expand your culinary horizons and try something new. Latin American cooking recipes are ideal, since they often use ingredients that are easy to find and they won't be too strange for the kids to try as well.

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.

The Americas gave the world many foods that today are considered indispensable, such as tomatoes, avocados and chocolate. The one that really became a staple in many parts of the world though is corn. This is still the starch eaten most often in Mexico and Central America, where no meal is complete without tortillas. It's used to make Salvadoran pupusas too. Tamales are another delicious corn-based treat and they're made differently in the various countries of the region.

Corn is not the only starch used in Latin America. In the Caribbean and more tropical regions, you'll find manioc and versatile plantains everywhere. Potatoes are popular too, since they originated in the Andean region. Rice dishes are found throughout and rice is often mixed with beans. In fact, rice and beans is a filling breakfast staple in many countries. Vegetables include carrots, green beans, tomatoes and onions, as well as a variety of squashes.

The meat of choice for many is pork, unless you're on the plains of Argentina or Paraguay, where you'll be served mountains of beef grilled to perfection. Chicken is eaten everywhere as well. Coastal communities, as well as those who live along large rivers or on the shores of lakes, often eat fish and other types of seafood and a refreshing dish is ceviche, which originally came from Peru.

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.

Pineapples, papayas and mangoes, as well as some more exotic fruits, are often the base for deliciously fruity drinks. Some more unusual drinks include ones made with rice, corn or coconut. If you want something stronger, you can't go wrong with a bottle of good rum and a couple of limes.

To find Latin American recipes, you can simply search online on food sites. You'll also find cookery books that include dishes from the region. To learn how to make authentic dishes, however, it's best to visit a country such as Mexico, Brazil or Argentina and take some classes. It's a great excuse for a vacation too.




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