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What do you think of when you hear "Latin American food?" In beginning to focus from "healthy global" to "healthy Latin American" I have done a bit of research, and today bring you 31 Latin American Recipes... a sampling of both traditional and modern interpretations of classics from Central and South America and the Caribbean.
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👩🏻🍳 Tamara Talks - About Latin Food
When you hear "Latin food," what comes to mind? I think of chiles, warm spices, vibrant flavors, corn, beans, squash, and so much more. Latin America includes the countries of Central and South America, and parts of the Caribbean. The terrain is as diverse as the Amazon jungle, the Peruvian Andes, the Bolivian desert, and the frozen tundra of Argentina.
You'll find Native American, Spanish (and other European countries), Asian, and African influences in Latin American food. Each cuisine has its own emphasis on spices like cumin, thyme, oregano, achiote, allspice, etc.
The chiles/peppers vary from region to region... Peru has its ají amarillo, ají panco, and rocoto while Mexico has a wide variety of fresh and dried chiles like jalapeño, serrano, poblano, ancho, and guajillo. The Caribbean is known for its use of Scotch bonnet peppers.
Fresh herbs used in Latin American cooking include (but are not limited to) cilantro, fresh thyme, mint, huacatay, fresh oregano, and more...
The 25 Latin American Recipes I've curated for this post qualify as "healthy-ish." 😆 Some of them should not be eaten every day, okay? All things in moderation!
I hope you'll find one or two (or more 🙂 ) you can't wait to try. I would love to hear your thoughts on narrowing my "niche" from global to Latin American too!
🍗 Latin Style Chicken Recipes
The Best Cuban Mojo Chicken • Lemon Blossoms
This easy to make Cuban Mojo chicken is marinated with the best fresh homemade Mojo marinade. Loaded with lots of great flavor, this Cuban recipe is always a favorite!!
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Instant Pot Chicken Filled Arepas • The Heritage Cook ®
Chicken Filled Arepas, a Latin American specialty combined with the technology and speed of the Instant Pot. A fun and delicious recipe!
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Arroz con Pollo Peruvian Style • Beyond Mere Sustenance
Arroz con Pollo Peruvian Style brings a little Peruvian soul to your table. This flavor-packed one pot meal features ají amarillo (Peruvian yellow chile), and gets its signature green tint from an entire bunch of cilantro. It’s a fantastic one pot meal!
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Puerto Rican Pinchos de Pollo • The Things We'll Make
Pinchos de pollo, marinated chicken kebabs, are traditional street food in Puerto Rico. They are marinated in a tangy sauce and then grilled to perfection.
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Pollo a la Brasa • Daring Gourmet
This authentic recipe for Pollo a la Brasa allows you to roast the chicken in the oven and still get that perfeclty crispy skin. It’s simply the best!
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🐟 Latin Style Fish and Seafood Recipes
Tapado Recipe • Beyond Mere Sustenance
Tropical flavors abound in this easy and healthyish Tapado Recipe! Make it on your stove top, or speed up the process using your Instant Pot. Either way, the dish is replete with fresh fish and shrimp, plantains, sweet potatoes, in a savory and delicious broth!
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Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Stew (Moqueca) • Karen's Kitchen Stories
Brazilian Shrimp and Fish Stew (Moqueca): Moqueca is a Brazilian fish stew made with coconut milk, tomatoes, peppers, and lots of cilantro. The combination of flavors, enhanced with garlic, onion, and lime juice, is bright, fresh, and delicious.
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Scallop Ceviche • Caroline's Cooking
Scallop ceviche is really easy to make but feels like an indulgent restaurant-style appetizer. Citrusy and with a hint of heat, it’s light & delicious.
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Mexican Shrimp and Rice (Arroz con Camarones)
A fiesta in bowl, Mexican Shrimp and Rice (aka arroz con camarones) combines Mexican flavors - cilantro, cumin, and garlic - with shrimp, rice, black beans, and veggies. Garnished with avocado, jalapeño, more cilantro, and lime wedges, it’s quick, healthy, gluten free, and flavorful... A perfect one…
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Latin-Inspired Ahi Tuna Tartare • Beyond Mere Sustenance
With a hint of Peru, this Latin-Inspired Tuna Tartare is a fresh twist on a classic small plate. Ají amarillo chile paste, fresh citrus, ponzu, and sesame oil provide the Latin-Asian flavors found throughout Peru. It’s quick, easy, healthy, gluten free, and a gorgeous dish to include on your holiday…
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🥩 Latin American Beef Options
My favourite Beef Empanadas • Cinnamon and Coriander
Back in my Costa Rican days I would take off to the Caribbean Coast every other week! I fell in love with the untamed vibe of the Caribbean beach towns around Puerto Limón. From the
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Lomo Saltado • Greedy Gourmet
Lomo saltado, translated to ‘jumped loin’, is a traditional Peruvian dish that you can find in South America, Spain and the Canary Islands. It has Peruvian, Creole and Chinese influences which are reflected in the rich lomo saltado sauce.
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Cuban Papas Rellenas • What a Girl Eats
Authentic Cuban Papas Rellenas are meat filled potato balls. They are a traditional Cuban snack or meal.
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Jamaican Jerk Beef Sliders • Mama Latina Tips
An irresistible combination of Angus Beef, Jamaican jerk spices, and coleslaw, these Jamaican Jerk Beef Sliders with Citrus Coleslaw are great appetizers for family gatherings or as a main dish any time of the week. They are tender, juicy and fragrant.
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Carbonada Criolla • Beyond Mere Sustenance
A hearty and comforting dish, Instant Pot Argentinian Beef Stew (Carbonada Criolla) is replete with tender beef, vegetables, herbs, and dried apricots. The Instant Pot/pressure cooker makes this delicious stew in about 60 minutes!
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🥗 Latin American Vegetarian Side Dishes
How to Make the BEST Encurtido! • Sustainable Cooks
Encurtido is an amazing and delicious spicy Honduran side dish that is so addicting and easy to make. Once you try these spicy pickled vegetables, you can’t stop eating it!
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Tomato Molcajete Salsa • In Mama Maggie's Kitchen
Tomato Molcajete Salsa makes a tasty topping for your Mexican dishes. Watch the video or follow the step-by-step pictures to recreate this yummy recipe.
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Peruvian Salsa Criolla • Beyond Mere Sustenance
An ultra-simple salad/salsa/side dish, Peruvian Red Onion and Tomato Salad requires only a few ingredients, takes a few minutes of active prep time, and is a perfect accompaniment many of your favorite dishes! A more substantial version of traditional Salsa Criolla...
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Vegan Ajiaco • Vegan Huggs
Vegan Ajiaco is a satisfying, one-pot meal that is made with 3 types of potatoes and served with sliced avocado, capers, and tangy cream.
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Peruvian Tomato Bisque • Beyond Mere Sustenance
A fresh and creamy soup light enough to enjoy as a starter course even in summer... Creamy Tomato Bisque Peruvian-Style - at once familiar and exotic - will have you licking your bowl and asking for more!
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Instant Pot Vegan Borracho Beans • Beyond Mere Sustenance
Instant Pot Vegan Borracho Beans get an umami flavor boost from miso. You won’t miss the bacon! Serve as a healthy (and flavorful) side or over rice for a main dish!
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Plantain Casserole • Living Sweet Moments
This Plantain Casserole recipe is very easy to make and delicious. The perfect side dish to any dinner or celebration. This has got to be one of my favorite Venezuelan Recipes. It’s comfort food at its best and it’s also my #1 requested item by my family (aside from the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake) .…
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Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pao de Queijo) • Honest and Truly
These delicious bites of heaven are surprisingly gluten free. Make this Brazilian cheese bread recipe at home for way less than store bought Pao de Queijo.
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🧁 Latin American Drink Recipes (With and Without Alcohol)
Peruvian Chicha Morada • Beyond Mere Sustenance
Chicha morada is the quintessential (nonalcoholic) drink of the Andes and an essential ingredients in cocktails, desserts, and more... Make it on your stove top or in your Instant Pot.
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Guava Agua Fresca • Mama Latina Tips
Guava agua fresca, also know as agua de guayaba, both surprises and refreshes. You’ll wish you had discovered it sooner. Made with just 3 ingredients
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Coquito (Puerto Rican Egg Nog) • Three Little Ferns
Add a little tropical flavor to your holiday celebrations with this super simple coquito recipe. A Puerto Rican take on egg nog!
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Chilcano de Maracuya • Beyond Mere Sustenance
Cool, light, and refreshing... Chilcano de Maracuya features Peru’s beloved pisco, fragrant maracuya (aka passionfruit or passion fruit), ginger ale, and a few drops of bitters. This one is perfect on a hot summer’s day!
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🧁 Latin American Dessert Recipes
Alfajores • Caroline's Cooking
Crumbly, tender dulce de leche sandwich cookies sandwiched together with dulce de leche caramel - alfajores are the kind of cookies that almost anyone will be tempted by.
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Dairy Free Blood Orange Flan • Beyond Mere Sustenance
With all the creamy richness of a traditional flan recipe, this Dairy Free Blood Orange Flan relies on coconut milk and coconut creamer in place of dairy milk, and features a blood orange caramel sauce and a quick pepita bark.
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Mexican Chocolate Trifle • Beyond Mere Sustenance
A hint of cinnamon and red chile in a brownie provides the base for this indulgent Mexican Chocolate Trifle with orange curd and pomegranate pudding.
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Passionfruit Dark Chocolate Dessert • Beyond Mere Sustenance
This Passionfruit Dark Chocolate Dessert combines a luscious dark chocolate flourless cake layer with a passionfruit curd. Garnished with a bit of fresh passionfruit (aka maracuya), this Peruvian-Inspired dessert recipe is a luxurious and decadent gluten free dessert for any special occasion!
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My emphasis on Beyond Mere Sustenance the last 2 to 3 years has been on Latin-inspired recipes. I have a Mexican category and a Peruvian category if you want to dig deeper into these flavorful cuisines!
Jane says
What a fabulous collection - so many recipes I want to try! Thanks for including my arepas.
Tamara says
The pleasure is mine! I hope to try them soon Jane!
Karen says
What an amazing collection of delicious sounding Latin American recipes! Thanks for including my stew!
Tamara says
My pleasure Karen! I can't wait to try it!
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Love all the flavors of Latin America! (Who doesn't!?) Everything looks delicious. Thank you for including me in this terrific round-up of traditional dishes.
Tamara says
You're very welcome Cynthia! Your Papas Rellenas look fabulous!