Latin America
Guacamole: Mashed Avocado with Lime, Onion and Cilantro
Chunky guacamole from ripe avocados, lime, onion, jalapeño and cilantro, made in 15 minutes with no cooking and a few tricks to slow browning.
15 min
Latin America recipes
Home cooking from Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean: corn, beans, plantains, chiles and long, patient stews.
Latin American cooking covers an enormous area, from Mexico and Central America to the Andes, Brazil, the Southern Cone and the Caribbean. Corn, beans, rice, potatoes, plantains and chiles appear again and again, but each country combines them in its own way, and the same name can mean different dishes in different places.
These recipes are written for a home kitchen outside the region. We explain how to handle ingredients such as dried chiles, masa and plantains, name the easiest substitutes at a regular grocery store, and are honest when a swap changes the dish. We also describe doneness by look and smell, since stew times vary with the pot and the stove.
If you enjoy slow-cooked comfort food, fresh salsas and dishes meant to be shared, this is a good place to begin.
Recipes in this section
Latin America
Chilaquiles Rojos: Tortilla Chips Simmered in Red Chile Sauce
Crisp tortilla chips tossed in a smoky guajillo and ancho red sauce, finished with crema, queso fresco and onion in about an hour.
1 hr
Latin America
Pozole Rojo: Hominy and Pork Stew with Red Chiles
Pork shoulder and hominy simmered in a smooth sauce of toasted guajillo and ancho chiles, served with cabbage, radish, onion and lime.
3 hr 30 min
Latin America
Peruvian-Style Ceviche: Fish Cured in Lime Juice
Cubed white fish cured in fresh lime juice with red onion, chile and cilantro for 10 to 15 minutes, served with sweet potato and corn.
50 min
Latin America
Arepas: Griddled Corn Cakes with Cheese Filling
Thick corn cakes made from pre-cooked corn flour, browned on a griddle, finished in the oven and split open to hold melted cheese.
50 min
Latin America
Pão de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread Rolls
Small Brazilian cheese rolls made with tapioca starch, milk, oil, eggs and cheese: a crisp thin crust, a chewy center, about 50 minutes.
50 min
Latin America
Beef Empanadas: Baked Pastry Turnovers with Spiced Filling
Baked turnovers filled with cumin and paprika ground beef, onion and optional egg and olives, made with simple dough or store-bought discs.
1 hr 35 min
Latin America
Lomo Saltado: Peruvian Beef and Onion Stir-Fry with Fries
Thin strips of beef stir-fried over high heat with red onion, tomato, soy sauce and vinegar, then served with crisp oven fries and white rice.
1 hr 10 min
Latin America
Cuban-Style Black Beans (Frijoles Negros) with Sofrito
Dried black beans simmered until creamy with a sofrito of onion, green pepper and garlic, cumin, oregano and a splash of vinegar.
2 hr 25 min