Traditional Food

Posts Tagged ‘Hispanic’

Hispanic recipes differ for each country, region, and town. Food is not only prepared in different ways, they also enhance it by mixing and experimenting on their ingredients and spices. Hispanic recipes involve the culinary tradition of different countries, promoting their own distinct taste when it comes to flavors and spices.

Hispanic people prefer certain types of foods. Food preferences usually reflect a certain culture. Hispanic groups like Mexicans favor amaranth and corn. South Americans favor potatoes, wheat, and quinoa but a large quantity of meat is eaten in livestock. In the Caribbean and coastal regions of Latin America, they prefer rice.

Tortillas are prepared differently in various Spanish American cultures. You will find more beef in Texan tortillas compared to Spain’s.

Portuguese cuisines also offer a combination of ingredients such as pickled pork with shellfish, and roast duck with ham and chorizo.

Popular Hispanic recipes:
Spanish:
• Gazpacho
• Arroces y Pastas
• Postres

Mexican:
• Fajitas – tortillas filled with choices of meat and vegetables.
• Paella – a sea food rice dish
• Arroz con Pollo- a chicken and rice dish
• Rice pudding
• Shrimp salads
• Meats with aromatic spices

Bolivian:
• Conejo Estirado – rabbit dish
• Turkey mole

Restaurants serving Hispanic foods have so much to offer, especially when it comes to the cultural aspect of a country. Hispanic foods basically connote good meals and a balanced diet.

In some supermarkets, similar to every one else, Hispanic shoppers really look for the freshness and authenticity of the fruits and vegetables they buy. They define authentic foods as a mixture of sweetness and spiciness.

Certain Hispanic cuisines also group their food according to flavors. Techniques vary, especially in food preparation.

Spanish-Americans prepare their recipes very differently. In Venezuela for example, they develop their recipes through some kind of special cultivation process.

There are also Hispanic recipes that are influenced by the European. They use both fresh and dried ingredients for their recipes. Since the culinary system offers a wide array of ideas in preparing Hispanic dishes, familiarizing yourself with their way of cooking will enable you to understand its cultural and sociological aspect as well. This would go with the different tastes and wild texture of spices.

Raisins are commonly used in other traditional Hispanic recipes. Tacos are eventually made from a variety of fresh ingredients, with a choice of the finest meats. Fruit juices can sometimes be served hot. It will even have a side delicacy.

Here are some traditional healthy recipes:
• Squash, black bean goat dish
• Blueberry-banana batido
• Tacos

More about Mexican Appetizers and Salsas:
For a hearty Mexican meal, you can start with some appetizers like the:
• Velvety Guacamole
• Chicken Quesadillas
• Mexican Cornbread
• Mexican Artichoke Dip

For breakfast, most Mexicans prefer:
• Cheese
• Egg
• Chili Casserole

Salsa is a common dip made from tomatoes for Mexican foods. For salads, one favorite Mexican recipe is the Tostadas Compuesta, meaning “toasted mixed salad.” This is considered as a special Mexican recipe because of the way it is placed inside the oven, making the beans so hot prior to putting the lettuce as well as all other delectable ingredients on top. Then, the dressing has an amazing aroma that seems to sizzle and fill the room. This dressing actually adds the flavor onto the beef and beans.

Traditional Hispanic recipes are an all-time favorite not only in countries with a Spanish culture but also other countries learning to appreciate its delectable taste. There are a lot of traditional Hispanic recipes you can easily make at home.

Hispanic food covers the culinary traditions of  Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, South and Central America. These countries have Spanish cultures and origins. Hispanic food varies from each town, family and region.

Hispanic groups usually like to eat their food with rice. Other Hispanics like to mix their meals with beans, potatoes, quinoa and wheat or cassava. These foods are not similar to your basic nachos, tacos, tamales and enchiladas. They have their individual mainstreams of menu items, from the main dishes, desserts and appetizers up to the beverages.

Listed below are different types of Traditional Hispanic Recipes:
1. Picadillo Tacos
Ingredients:
• 1 large chopped onion
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 pounds lean ground pork
• ¾ cup Sun-Maid Natural Raisins
• 1 can or 15 ounce tomato sauce
• ½ cup pimento-stuffed green olives sliced
• Salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 purchased taco or tostada shells
• 3 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 ½ cups coarsely grated radish
• Lime wedges

Directions:
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic and onion, cook for about 3 minutes.
• Cook until it becomes soft.
• Add some pork.
• Increase the heat and stir, breaking up the large pieces (cook until the pork is no longer pinkish in color).
• Add tomato sauce, raisins, cinnamon, olives, pepper and salt to taste.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
• Divide warm picadillos between its shells.
• Serve this topped with radish, cheese, lettuce and a squeeze of lime.

2. Sweet Raisin Tamales
Ingredients:
• 35 pcs cork husks
• 1 ½ c butter
• 3 pounds corn masa (prepared, for tamales)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1 ½ cup of Sun-Maid Natural Raisins

Directions:
• Soak the corn husks in hot water for about 30 minutes or until the corn husks are soft.
• Combine the prepared masa with baking powder, sugar and butter using a large deep bowl.
• Mix until it becomes smooth, using a heavy spoon or electric mixer.
• Spoon about two teaspoons of raisin-masa mixture in a mound of about 1 x 3 inches, particularly on the length and center of corn husks.
• Roll the long side of husks over some filling.
• Fold the narrow the end of the husks up and tie it with a strip of corn husk, leaving the top end open or twisting both ends and tying it.
• Steam the tamales for about 45 minutes.
• The corn husks should pull away from the masa when it’s done.
• Serve warm.

3. Raisin Salsa
Ingredients:
• 1 medium tomato
• 1 medium red onion
• ½ bunch of cilantro
• 1/3 cup sweet pickle relish
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 jalapeno peppers stem and seeds removed
• Juice of 1 lime
• ¾ cup of Sun-Maid Natural Raisins
• Salt

Directions:
• Beat all the ingredients, except for the raisins, inside the food processor for about 10 minutes or until it becomes coarsely chopped.
• Transfer the mixture onto a large bowl.
• Stir in the raisins.
• Salt to taste.
• Let this stand for about 15 minutes so that the flavor blends.