From quesadillas to margaritas, many people are now familiar with Hispanic food and cuisines. They taste savory and sweet, and you can always enjoy a delicious staple or two at a local restaurant. Fortunately, for those who want to create these dishes in their homes, it’s now possible as long as an individual has the right cookware and recipe from the internet.
Many people in South America, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and Spain celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. This begins in September and ends in October. This is also the anniversary of the independence of Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. To help you prepare, here’s a delicious menu that’s worth considering.
Food List
1. Tortilla Espanola
This is a classic dish that’s popular and beloved in Spain. The food is a translation for Spanish tortilla, but you can also hear others refer to this as a potato omelet. Regardless of what this is called, this combination of onions, potatoes, and eggs can be prepared with the help of Latin cookware that’s designed for Hispanic cuisines. You can serve this at any time of the day, and it’s relatively easy to prepare.
The traditional Espanola variety is usually made by sauteed onions, thinly sliced potatoes, and beaten fluffy and rich eggs. Some people may prefer omelet that are dense and thick. Others may go with a variety of interpretations where they enjoy this dish cold. This can be served as the main entrée, a snack, or a tapa.
2. Empanada
These pastry shells are delicious, and they are baked into perfection. They are crescent in shape, and the pies are very savory. Some of the fillings are sweet, while there are empanadas filled with meat. In other countries, the meats are mixed with olives, onions, and peppers. The dough is flour-based, but there are also corn varieties. They can be filled with chicken, potatoes, beans, and fish.
Know that not every region or country will make the same empanada, and this is why you can add a touch of versatility to this dish. Making empanada involves flattened dough where you place a spoonful of the sweets or meats on the side. Fold the dough and do some crimps and designs on the edges to make it look like shells. Bake the entire pastry, or you can also fry it. The outer layer will be crispy and flaky, but the interior will remain soft.
3. Arepa
If you’re craving unleavened cornmeal cakes, then arepa can be the best option for you. This dish can be grilled, baked, or fried, depending on your preferences. You can serve them with melted cheese, salsa Fresca, or make them whole. They open up just like a sandwich, and the authentic ones are usually paired with avocado, meat, beans, milk curds, and cheese.
Arepas originated in South America in the Northern Regions. This is present-day Columbia and Venezuela, and the corn cakes have become a household staple in many areas. They can be eaten during dinners, lunches, or breakfasts. Learn more about arepa in this link here.
4. Tajadas
Ripe plantains that are fried are called tajadas, and they are served as desserts. They are usually paired with entrees like fried chicken, pork, or rice. The fried plantains are traditionally enjoyed in Columbia, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Venezuela. They are a traditional Hispanic food enjoyed in many households, but in Cuba, they are usually called maduros.
One of the essential ingredients in making tajadas is ripe plantain. Green plantains are pretty common in the Caribbean and Latin America. However, if you want a sweeter taste, the plantains should be ripened until the skin is black. The flesh becomes sweet and tender. Preparing for the traditional tajadas also involves cutting the ripe plantain into long slices.
5. Gallo Pinto
The Gallo pinto is another version of beans and rice. These two are featured in many Hispanic dishes around the world. However, this is more common in Nicaraguan and Costa Rican cuisine. This is so beloved by many people that the two countries made this their national dish.
Gallo pinto means spotted rooster. This describes the rice plus the speckled appearance of beans. Each region has its own versions of this delicious dish, but the combinations include peppers, beans, onions, rice, and spice. In countries like Costa Rica, this is usually served with a brown sauce filled with spices called salsa lizano.
6. Taco
There’s no need to introduce tacos to everybody as they are common street foods in many countries. Traditional Mexican food is famous worldwide, and this is one of the comfort foods in America. The authentic ones are made up of tortillas that are soft-shell corn, and they are usually eaten immediately after they are cooked. The hard taco shells were more portable versions and were invented in the early 1940s, which helped make this food last longer.
The iconic street varieties are fused into many types of cuisines all around the world. There’s a combination of Korean ones in kimchi, and there are other vegan varieties. Many people may prefer the traditional types such as tacos de barbacoa made up of shredded lamb, pork, goat, or the al pastor, which consists of the marinated sliced port. The fast-food versions usually come with sour cream and stuffed with cheese, but many people may still prefer the fresh and authentic ingredients from the classic version.
7. Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are another famous Hispanic dish, and they are usually found in Mexico and Spain. The peppers are traditionally halved or hollowed out, and they are stuffed with fillings like veggies, rice, and meat. Once they are filled, the peppers are usually cooked and topped with plenty of sauces and cheese.
In Spain, there’s a variety of Manchego cheese and pimientos Rellenos peppers filled with chicken. There’s the roasted poblano peppers, chile Rellenos, along with ingredients like raisins, spices, and red meat. Stuffed peppers may also contain pork, and they can be covered with red sauce or salsa Roja for a more delicious taste.
