Latin American Recipes & Food Ideas

It's always the first thing gone at any barbecue.

It’s sweet, salty, and sour.

They’re that good.

When the heat of summer sets in I just want to eat meals that will cool me down. My relationship with soups, stews, and basically anything that comes out of the oven is on hold for these next few months. I prefer easy summer dinners that come together quickly when I don’t feel like cooking.Needless to say, this shrimp ceviche is on heavy rotation.

The sauce is everything.

No sweetener necessary.

Brace yourself for the epic cheese pull.

Get ready to crunch.

Say goodbye to the canned version forever.

Low and slow is the only way to go.

Caution: These are extremely delicious.

Meet your new favorite side.

It's amazing on fish tacos.

You only need three ingredients, including the tequila.

Pitcher cocktails are smart party choices; they easily serve a crowd and don’t require you to be constantly shaking and stirring. These pitcher margaritas are even wiser than the rest, seeing as this recipe isn’t even a recipe — it’s a ratio. Just follow a ratio of three parts tequila, two parts orange liqueur, and one part lime juice.

The pro move: Eat it on a cheesy open-faced sandwich.

Drench it in the spiced, sweet syrup.

Many of us turn to beans for our weekly meals. It’s a beloved pantry staple for hearty chili, winter stews, and comforting soups. Canned beans are no stranger to my pantry (there’s always a variety lining the shelves for an emergency), but over these past several months at home, I’ve become a dried bean convert.

Enjoy with a glass of good wine.

Anything but boring.

You just need six ingredients and 15 minutes.

It's unreal with eggs.

So warm, so cozy.

No slow cooker? No problem.

It calls for pantry staples.

A hot and fruity Mexican Christmas punch.

It's tropical and coconut-y.

When a busy weeknight calls for nachos, start here.

Because leftover Thanksgiving sandwiches are overrated.

A zesty, vibrant herb-packed sauce for everything from meat to potatoes.

The ultimate chicken and rice combo.

This saucy, slightly spicy dish is the comforting weekend breakfast you need.

It’s the next best option if you can’t get to Brazil.

You haven’t had cheesecake like this before.

It's packed with flavor.

You've never seen chicken enchiladas like this before.

"Better the next day" is an understatement.

Whenever my kitchen fills with the smell of bacon grease and cornmeal, I am transported back to the moment I laid eyes on that golden pancake.

This classic Cuban soup is inexpensive, hearty, and guaranteed to warm you up.

This recipe takes less than five minutes to pull together and then rewards you with a delicious, healthy dinner at the end of the day.

These fajitas have roasted sweet potato slices dusted in cumin and smoked paprika. Stuff them into warm tortillas and drizzle with a tangy yogurt and lime crema.

There is a particular bottled salsa on every table in Costa Rica. It’s called Lizano and the first time you taste it you have to stop and think a minute. Do I like it or not?

It’s unlike any you’ve had before.

A chipotle marinade makes the chicken extra-flavorful.

At taco trucks, my drink of choice is always jamaica, that bright red brew that is a little tart, a little sweet and totally refreshing on a hot day. Made with dried hibiscus flowers, jamaica is easy enough to make at home, but it wasn’t until recently that I discovered how much tastier — and even simpler! — it can be when you cold-brew it overnight in the refrigerator.

If you can't get enough of Mexican street corn, we combined all the flavors in one sweet, salty, and crispy fritter.

It doesn't get much easier than this.

It doubles as a marinade.

Everyone will ask for your trick.

Whenever I go to a restaurant that has a salsa bar (always a plus in my book), I skip over the chunky pico de gallo and roasted tomato salsa and head straight to the salsa verde. This tart, slightly spicy salsa always makes whatever I’m pouring it onto so much tastier. It can be slightly harder to find at the store, but it’s actually one of the easiest salsas you can make at home! You just need five ingredients: tomatillos, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, and salt.

My husband Mike brought many valuable qualities to our partnership: He’s kind, charming, smart, and has good taste in books. He loves good food, and brews coffee every single morning. And somewhere among the upper pantheon of his stellar attributes is also this: He can fold a burrito so that you can eat it all the way down to the very nub, without it falling apart in your hands. Want to know how he does it?

No shaker (or fancy tools) required.

More than a decade after experiencing my first pupusa, I can still remember my wide-eyed joy as I bit into the thick, stuffed tortilla. Why had I never eaten one before, and how soon could I have another? As I learned, the best part about El Salvador’s national dish isn’t just the warm, savory masa filled with melty cheese (or meat or beans), but its brilliant accompaniment called curtido.

There's something almost magical about it.

They taste just like the quintessential summer cocktail.

The quickest, easiest method.

And it comes out perfectly fluffy each time.

Cheesy, meaty, and so, so good.

Watch the video to learn how to make corn tortillas from scratch at home.

This step-by-step guide will set you up for success.