Recetas/Recipes

Snacks

  1. Fried plantains (patacones/tostones) –> History HERE
  2. Homemade Spicy Fries (Andes Mountains)
  3. Tapas (Spain) –> History HERE
  4. Guacamole—I chop up avocado, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and add a lot of freshly squeezed lime juice; mix; and enjoy with chips!

Meals

  1. Tortilla Española (Spain)
  2. Gallo pinto (Costa Rica)
  3. Arepas (Venezuela)
  4. Arepas (Puerto Rico)
  5. Seco de Carne a la limeña (Peru)
  6. Mangú
  7. Paella
  8. Gazpacho—use watermelon as the base instead of water!
  9. Salmorejo
  10. Bocadillo
  11. Arroz con habichuelas
  12. Tortillas (Mexico)

Beverages

  1. Morir soñando (Dominican Republic)
  2. Horchata (Mexico)
  3. Purple Corn Drink (Ecuador)

Desserts

  1. Flan
  2. Churros –> History below*
  3. Dulce de leche
  4. Tres leches cake
  5. Arroz con leche

CHALLENGE: Cook/bake/make/eat a different traditional recipe from a Spanish-speaking country with your family each week. Here are a few ideas:

  1. ARGENTINA: Dulce de leche (to make) OR Dulce de leche (to buy)
  2. BOLIVIA: So Many Ideas Here!; Salteñas– Bolivian empanadas; Llajua– Bolivian Hot Sauce! Or HERE!
  3. PUERTO RICO: Authentic Dishes, Tostones aka Plantain Chips!
  4. PARAGUAY: National Dish- Sopa Paraguaya (not actually a soup!)
  5. HONDURAS: Baleadas– yummy filled tortillas
  6. COLOMBIA: Colombian Dishes You Must Try
  7. GUATEMALA: Pepian- traditional Guatemalan dish

*“History is divided on how exactly churros came to exist. Some say they were the invention of nomadic Spanish shepherds. Living high in the mountains with no access to bakeries, the Spanish shepherds supposedly created churros, which were easy for them to cook in frying pans over fire. Lending credibility to this version of history is the fact that there exists a breed of sheep called the ‘Navajo-Churro’, which are descended from the ‘Churra’ sheep of the Iberian Peninsula; the horns of these sheep look similar to the fried pastry.

Another story says that Portuguese sailors discovered a similar food in Northern China called ‘Yóu Tiáo’ and they brought it back with them. The Spanish learned of the new culinary treat from their neighbors, and put their own spin on it by passing the dough through a star-shaped tip which gives the churro its signature ridges.” (source).