Latin American Food: 15 Must-Try National Dishes of Latin America If you’re like me, you love Latin American food. Food is an essential aspect of culture, which, as a concept, encompasses everything from music to art to guisquil. But food has a most special quality—it brings people together. What do family gatherings, holidays, and special occasions all have in common?
By exploring the diverse sights, smells, and tastes of Latin American food, you get a taste of each country’s culture. Food is much more than just sustenance. It retains our cultural identity and connects us to those around us. By experiencing Latin American food, you connect more to the people from these regions and understand their cultural heritage. Let’s take a trip through 15 countries to learn about the Latin American food in each one!
Once we’re finished, you’ll know what to order the next time you go to a Latino restaurant, or get inspired in the kitchen and cook up an amazing dish for your friends and family. Latin American Food: Top 15 National Dishes Prepare to hear your tummy growl! All of these examples of Latin American food not only taste delicious, but they also represent a huge part of each country’s culture. Spending time with family or friends grilling fresh meat in the open air is cherished in Argentina. Argentinians usually serve the meat with a side of bread, potato salad, and a celery mayonnaise salad. Not only does the asado represent the comradery and closeness that Argentinians enjoy, but it also shows how important meat is to the country’s gastronomy.
Empanadas usually have a savory filling wrapped in a fried doughy filling. The salteñas from Bolivia are special because the filling is more liquidy, resembling a soup or a stew more than a regular empanada stuffing. The key ingredient to making salteñas is gelatin. While many empanadas lie on their side, you can pick salteñas out of a lineup because of their characteristic upright shape.
The beautiful pinched seam goes along the top of the half-circle pastry rather than on the side. Brazil: Feijoada Beans are one of the staple foods in Latin America, and many countries have their own take on how to prepare them. One of the most popular bean dishes is the feijoada in Brazil, a delicious stew with meat and beans. Brazil is a huge country, so people throughout the region prepare their own version of feijoada.