Recipes and dishes of Latin American cuisine represent a whole layer of intermixed culinary traditions of countries and republics of the Latin American region. It includes: Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Peru, and therefore traditional Latin American cuisine contains the flavor of each of these countries.
The continent of South America is inhabited by people of different nationalities, many settlers and emigrants now live in Latin America. Indigenous people living in these territories, since ancient times, have grown a variety of vegetable crops, for example - corn, which became the main in all agriculture. To our time, many recipes of Latin American cuisine have come, in which the main ingredient is corn.
Corn and spices - a highlight of Latin American cuisine
South Americans have long known and used the useful qualities of corn in cooking traditional cuisine. Corn - an indispensable element of any dish, from it prepare both main dishes, and garnishes to them. In the course goes even corn flour, which is the basis for the preparation of traditional and beloved cakes tortillas. These cakes have long become an independent dish of Latin American cuisine.
In order to prepare tortillas, it is necessary to add seasonings and spices to the dough, and then to coat the prepared tortillas with cream or vegetable oil and eat with a spicy or cheese sauce.
Latin American cuisine is characterized by the use of a mass of spices and spices. In one dish there should be at least 5 types of spices - this is the main rule of cooking traditional dishes of Latin American cuisine.
In the dishes of the local cuisine there are plant notes that give dishes of pleasant aromas - basil, thyme, mint, sage and pepper. Pepper is the most favorite component of the chefs, the best known in Latin American countries is pepper "jalapeno".Although not inferior in the championship and pepper "chili", it is actively used in the traditional cuisine of this region. As for varieties of chili pepper, only in the country of Chile its species number more than 70!And they are all used in cooking.
Tomatoes and potatoes are the same commonly used ingredients as spices. A great love for cooks and residents of beans to beans, especially red beans, whose popularity is not less than that of corn, is different.
Latin American cuisine - intertwining the culinary traditions of the peoples of South America
Do not forget that Latin American cuisine is a mixture of traditions and features of many countries, which, although they vary in some ways, but in the preparation of traditional dishes are similar. The cultures of countries, their nationalities, and even the states themselves are absolute opposites to each other. The national cuisines of Cuba and Brazil, Mexico are most similar. It is worth noting that they have much in common due to the unification of the traditions of the national dishes of the indigenous people who inhabited the territories of their countries. They are representatives of Indian tribes, joined by European colonists - the Spaniards and the Portuguese.
The most popular among Cubans and Mexicans is cooking meat, especially pork and beef. The method is very simple and impregnated with tradition - on an open fire. Thanks to this meat is the most delicious, and with the addition of a special sauce made from tomatoes and spices becomes an unconditional favorite of traditional cuisine.
In Brazil, the national cuisine combined the main features of the cultures of the peoples of South America. But to differ, the Brazilians make more variety in their dishes than other nations of the continent. For example, thanks to this difference, they became the most popular cuisine in the world. And it's no accident, because traditional Brazilian cuisine is a colorful mosaic of indigenous cultures of Brazil. European traditions brought by colonists into the country, African slaves, as well as Asian immigrants made a barely noticeable contribution.
In traditional Latin American cuisine, drinks are a special honor, among them coffee occupies a leading position. It is the Brazilian and Colombian coffee that is famous all over the world for its aroma and taste. Alcoholic beverages are a separate niche in the national cuisine. For the preparation of dishes often used wine, it marinated meat, add to sauces or confectionery.
Many countries in South America use fish and seafood in their diets. Also worth mentioning about the fruits that underlie the preparation of a lot of desserts, drinks and juices. Vegetables in Latin America are used for the preparation of salads, which are filled exclusively with olive oil. It is believed that only it will not spoil the cooked dish.
The very same cuisine of Latin America refers to the "fiery" because of the huge amount of spices and spices, seasonings that are generously added to all dishes prepared according to traditional recipes.