Central American Cuisine
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Central American Cuisine
Latin American cuisine is the typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in Latin America. Latin America is a highly diverse area of land whose nations have varying cuisines. Some items typical of Latin American cuisine include maize-based dishes arepas, pupusas, tacos, tamales, tortillas and various salsas and other condiments (guacamole, pico de gallo, mole, chimichurri, chili, aji, pebre). Sofrito, a culinary term that originally referred to a specific combination of sautéed or braised aromatics, exists in Latin American cuisine. It refers to a sauce of tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, garlic, onions and herbs. Rice and beans are also staples in Latin American cuisine. Latin American beverages are just as distinct as their foods. Some of the beverages can even date back to the times of the Native Americans. Some popular beverages include coffee, mate, hibiscus tea, horchata, chicha, atole, cacao and aguas frescas. Desserts i ...
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Asado Uruguayo
' () is the technique and the social event of having or attending a barbecue in various South America, South American countries, especially Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay where it is also a traditional event. An ''asado'' usually consists of beef, pork, Chicken as food, chicken, , and which are cooked on a grilling, grill, called a ''parrilla'', or an open fire. Generally the meats are accompanied by red wine and salads. This meat is prepared by a person who is the assigned ''asador'' or ''parrillero''. History Large herds of wild cattle roamed much of the pampa region of Argentina until the mid-nineteenth century. Inhabitants of the Río de la Plata, especially the equestrian gaucho, developed a fondness for beef, especially asado, which is roasted beef (or lamb or goat). The meat, often a side of ribs, is skewered on a metal frame called an asador and is roasted by placing it next to a slow-burning fire. Gauchos favored cooking asado with the wood of the quebracho tr ...
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Café
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-caffeinated beverages. In continental Europe, cafés serve alcoholic drinks. A coffeehouse may also serve food, such as light snacks, sandwiches, muffins, fruit, or pastries. Coffeehouses range from owner-operated small businesses to large multinational corporations. Some coffeehouse chains operate on a franchise business model, with numerous branches across various countries around the world. While ''café'' may refer to a coffeehouse, the term "café" generally refers to a diner, British café (colloquially called a "caff"), "greasy spoon" (a small and inexpensive restaurant), transport café, teahouse or tea room, or other casual eating and drinking place. A coffeehouse may share some of the same characteristics of a bar or restaurant, ...
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Crème Caramel
Crème caramel (), flan, caramel pudding or caramel custard is a custard dessert with a layer of clear caramel sauce. History The origin of crème caramel (also known originally as flan) can be traced all the way back to the Roman Empire. Originally, this dish was called tiropatinam and it was made with eggs, milk and pepper and it was seasoned in its savoury version with fish, eel, and spinach, although there was also a sweet version with honey. It was in the early Middle Ages, in Spain, when they started using only the ingredients from which the original recipe is made today, and introduced caramelised sugar into the mixture and to call it flan, which comes from the proto-germanic 'flado'. In the late 20th century crème caramel was common in European restaurants. The food historian Alan Davidson speculates that this may have been because the dish could be prepared in bulk, in advance. Etymology of names In this context, ''crème'' in French means ' custard'. The names ...
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Teja (confectionery)
A teja () is a dumpling-shaped confection from the Ica Region of Peru. It contains manjar blanco filling (similar to dulce de leche) and either dried fruits or nuts. The exterior is usually a sugar-based fondant-like shell, but there also exists chocolate Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao has been consumed in some form since at least the Olmec civ ... versions too (known by the blend ''chocotejas''). References External links Helena Chocolatieris a major manufacturer of tejas. Confectionery Latin American cuisine Peruvian cuisine Spanish cuisine {{peru-cuisine-stub ...
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Tres Leches Cake
A tres leches cake (; , or ), also known as pan tres leches (), is a sponge cake—soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and whole milk. ''Tres leches'' is a very light cake, with many air bubbles. This distinct texture is why it does not have a soggy consistency, despite being soaked in a mixture of three types of milk. Popularity and origins Tres leches cake is a uniquely traditional Latin American cake. It can be found all across Latin America, especially so in Central American countries such as Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua, which all claim an origin to the cake. Recipes for soaked-cake desserts were seen in Latin America as early as the 19th century, in countries like El Salvador, likely a result of the large cross-cultural transfer which took place between Europe and the Americas. Nicaragua is one of the countries where tres leches cake has become popular. Recipes appeared on Nestlé condensed milk can labels ...
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Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is a dish made from rice mixed with water or milk and other ingredients such as cinnamon, vanilla and raisins. Variants are used for either desserts or dinners. When used as a dessert, it is commonly combined with a sweetener such as sugar. Such desserts are found on many continents, especially Asia where rice is a staple. Some variants are thickened only with the rice starch; others include eggs, making them a kind of custard. Rice pudding around the world Rice puddings are found in nearly every area of the world. Recipes can greatly vary even within a single country. The dessert can be boiled or baked. Different types of pudding vary depending on preparation methods and the selected ingredients. The following ingredients are usually found in rice puddings: * rice; white rice (usually short-grain, but can also be long-grain, broken rice, basmati, or jasmine rice), brown rice, or black rice * milk (whole milk, coconut milk, cream or evaporated) * spices (cardam ...
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Alfajor
An ''alfajor'' or ''alajú'' (, plural ''alfajores'') is a traditional confection typically made of flour, honey, and nuts. It is found in Argentina, Peru, Chile, the Philippines, Southern Brazil, Southern France, Spain, and Uruguay. The archetypal ''alfajor'' entered Iberia during the period of al-Andalus. It is produced in the form of a small cylinder and is sold either individually or in boxes containing several pieces. Etymology According to Spanish philologist and dialectologist Manuel Alvar López, ''alfajor'' is an Andalusian variant of the Castilian ''alajú'', derived from the Arabic word , ''al-fakhir'', meaning luxurious, and, contrary to some beliefs that it originated in the New World, was introduced to Latin America as ''alfajor''. The word had been introduced into Spanish dictionaries in the 14th century. In Antonio de Nebrija's ''«Spanish-Latin Vocabulary»'' (1495) : The publication of historical dictionaries of the Spanish language allows one to document bot ...
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Dulce De Leche
''Dulce de leche'' (; pt, doce de leite), also known as caramelized milk, milk candy or milk jam in English, is a confection from Latin America prepared by slowly heating sugar and milk over a period of several hours. The resulting substance, which takes on a spreadable, sauce-like consistency, derives its rich flavour and colour from non-enzymatic browning. It is typically used to top or fill other sweet foods. ''Dulce de leche'' is Spanish for "sweet adeof milk". Other regional names in Spanish include ''manjar'' ("delicacy") and ''arequipe''; in Mexico and some Central American countries ''dulce de leche'' made with goat's milk is called 'cajeta'. In French it is called ''confiture de lait.'' It is also known under the name of ''kajmak'' in Polish cuisine, where it was independently created based on Turkish kaymak, a kind of clotted cream. Kajmak is most commonly used for wafers or the mazurek pie traditionally eaten on Easter. Preparation and uses The most basic recipe ...
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Agua Fresca
''Aguas frescas'' ( en, cool waters, lit=fresh waters, italic=yes) are light non-alcoholic beverages made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. They are popular in Mexico and some other Latin American countries, as well as parts of the United States such as the Southwest. Some of the more common varieties include , , and . ''Aguas frescas'' are sold by street vendors and are commonly found in convenience stores, restaurants and juice bars. Terminology The terms ''aguas frescas'' could lead to confusion in some Spanish speaking countries, as they may refer to bottled soft drinks. For example, in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panamá soft drinks are referred to as "''frescos''" (short for ''refresco''), which in Mexico means soft drinks. Soft drinks in Guatemala are called "''aguas''", short for ''aguas gaseosas'', which could easily be confused with the Mexican ''aguas frescas''. Types In Mexico, it is common to ...
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Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, is a heated drink consisting of shaved chocolate, melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and usually a sweetener like whipped cream or marshmallows. Hot chocolate made with melted chocolate is sometimes called drinking chocolate, characterized by less sweetness and a thicker consistency. The first chocolate drink is believed to have been created by the Maya around 2,500–3,000 years ago, and a cocoa drink was an essential part of Aztec culture by 1400 AD, by which they referred to as . The drink became popular in Europe after being introduced from Mexico in the New World and has undergone multiple changes since then. Until the 19th century, hot chocolate was used medicinally to treat ailments such as liver and stomach diseases. Hot chocolate is consumed throughout the world and comes in multiple variations, including the spiced of Latin America, the very thick served in Italy and served i ...
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Atole
''Atole'' (, from Nahuatl '' ātōlli'' ), also known as ''atolli'' and ''atol de elote'', is a traditional hot corn- and masa-based beverage of Mexican origin. Chocolate ''atole'' is known as ''champurrado'' or ''atole''. It typically accompanies tamales, and is very popular during Day of the Dead (observed November 2) and ''Las Posadas'' (Christmas holiday season). In Mexico In Mexico, the drink typically includes'' masa ''(corn hominy flour), water, ''piloncillo'' (unrefined cane sugar), cinnamon, vanilla, and optional chocolate or fruit. The mixture is blended and heated before serving. ''Atole'' is made by toasting ''masa'' on a ''comal'' (griddle), then adding water that was boiled with cinnamon sticks. The resulting blends vary in texture, ranging from a porridge to a very thin, liquid consistency. ''Atole'' can also be prepared with rice, wheat, or oatmeal in place of masa. In northern Mexico, a variation is also made using ''pinole'' (sweetened toasted corn meal). ...
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Chicha
''Chicha'' is a fermented (alcoholic) or non-fermented beverage of Latin America, emerging from the Andes and Amazonia regions. In both the pre- and post-Spanish conquest periods, corn beer (''chicha de jora'') made from a variety of maize landraces has been the most common form of ''chicha''. However, ''chicha'' is also made from a variety of other cultigens and wild plants, including, among others, quinoa (''Chenopodium quinia''), kañiwa (''Chenopodium pallidicaule''), peanut, manioc (also called yuca or cassava), palm fruit, rice, potato, oca (''Oxalis tuberosa''), and chañar (''Geoffroea decorticans''). There are many regional variations of ''chicha''. In the Inca Empire, ''chicha'' had ceremonial and ritual uses. Etymology and related phrases The exact origin of the word ''chicha'' is debated. One belief is that the word ''chicha'' is of Taino origin and became a generic term used by the Spanish to define any and all fermented beverages brewed by indigenous peoples ...
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