Friday, November 7, 2014

Discover Different Taste Sensations With Latin American Cooking Recipes

By Christa Jarvis


If preparing a meal has become a chore that you don't really look forward to, it's time to bring some creativity into the kitchen again. You may want to try dishes from other parts of the world, for instance. An easy option is to explore some Latin American cooking recipes, because most of them are easy to make, the ingredients aren't hard to find and the kids won't find the dishes too exotic for their tastes. Remember to play some salsa or merengue music while you're preparing the dishes, to make the experience more fun.

Many people think of burritos and tacos when they think of the cuisine of Latin America. However, the region is huge, with many different cultures. The landscape varies too, with tropical jungles, high mountain regions, wide plains, deserts and a coastline that stretches from the tropics to sub-polar regions. This means that there is a wide variety of ingredients to use and inevitable there are huge regional variations in what people eat.

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.

Another staple from the Americas is the potato, which came from the Andean highlands and is still eaten almost everywhere. In tropical areas the plantain is often used instead and manioc is a Caribbean favorite. Rice often comes with red or black beans and it can be served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Different varieties of squash are just some of the vegetables served as well.

Pork is a popular meat and in some places you'll also find goat or more exotic meats such as guinea pig. In Paraguay and Argentina, however, everything revolves around beef, which is best grilled over hot coals. When people can, they keep chickens for the eggs and the meat as well. Fish and seafood are coastal staples but are also eaten near large rivers and lakes. A popular, easy-to-prepare fish dish that has spread from Peru to most other countries is ceviche.

Most Latin Americans have a sweet tooth and desserts are plentiful. Among the most popular are the different variations of flan, dulce de leche and tres leches cake. You'll find special sweets for certain festivals too.

The region also boasts many interesting fruits that provide a healthier snack, from the more familiar mangoes and papayas to more exotic fruits such as jocotes and maracuyas. These fruits are often blended into refreshing smoothies. Some non-alcoholic drinks are made with rather unusual ingredients, such as rice or corn. When it comes to alcohol, rum is one of the most popular.

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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