Sure, you may have tacos every now and then, but have you tried any of the following street food items on this list? If you really want to up your food game, you need to start digging deep into the variety the great people of Latin America have to offer. So, read this list to get to know more about the food you’ll find if you ever get around to visiting these beautiful countries.
Pupusas- El Salvador
If you really are unlucky enough to have never tried pupusas, pay attention because your life is about to get a whole lot better. A pupusa is a thick corn tortilla stuffed with either cheese, or refried beans, or pork fat, or all of above. It is then cooked on a griddle, creating a soft, round-shaped piece of heaven. People usually add curtido, a vinegar-y cabbage slaw, and a red tomato sauce #respect.
Arepas-Venezuela
Arepas are similar to pupusas and Mexican gorditas. You could even call them their cousin. Similar to gorditas, arepas in Venezuela (as opposed to the Colombian versions) are stuffed. But they are only stuffed after they have been cooked. And you can stuff them with pretty much anything, but avocado and meat seem to be the most common combination. Think about this though: thick slices of fried plantains combined with salty, white fresh cheese inside a flour wrap. Nice!
Choripán – Argentina
Argentina’s answer to hot dogs, except way better. This portmanteau is exactly what it sounds like: chorizo + pan (chorizo and bread). That’s it. Take a thick barbecued sausage from the world’s best meat and place it over an open baguette. Add some chimichurri (a sauce made from parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, oregano, and vinegar) and you’ll get one of the best sandwiches ever. Yummy.
Pastel – Brazil
Brazil’s take on an empanada. They are deep-fried, crispy pastries commonly filled with melted cheese, meat, a boiled egg, or even shrimp. What usually happens is that the filling sinks all the way to the bottom, but don’t you worry, the pastry itself is so delicious you’ll want it to last forever.
Pork Sandwich – Cuba
Behold, meat lovers, a sandwich to remember: a ground pork patty, grilled medium-rare, with some lettuce and tomato, in fresh, soft bread. Simple but amazing.
Guac and Chi(charrón) – Mexico
Mexico is the king of food. Period. We could make an entire list of Mexican street snacks, and it would still be incomplete. You can probably think of some yourself and name a gazillion of Mexican dishes. But let’s set that aside for now and focus on a much more simpler and less obvious snack that is a staple in Mexico. Fried pork skin and smashed avocados joined in holy matrimony to provide a much tastier alternative to your average nachos and cheese. Take a piece of pork skin and dip it in the guacamole to see what I’m talking about. While this may not exactly be sold on the street, you’ll certainly find this combination at avocado or pork meat stands in Mexican street markets. Also, it’ll go great with your keto diet. So, there. You’re welcome.
Ceviche – Peru
Ah, Peru. Mexico’s only true match, not only in Latin America, but in the world, which means this list would be incomplete without at least one mention of their best-known dish you probably haven’t tried. Not properly, anyway. On this list, we’ve found lots of corn or bread-based dishes, so ceviche serves a fresh and healthy counterweight to the many options above. It all comes down to chunks of fresh fish marinated in lemon or lime juice, onions, chili peppers, and salt and pepper to taste. There are, of course, regional variations that include garlic, fish broth, or Peru’s spice, called ají. You can also have the marinade as a stand-alone appetizer, which carries the badass name of leche de tigre, Spanish for tiger’s milk. Not bad, not bad at all.
You probably know that many of the most awesome Latin American dishes didn’t make the list, which is evidence of just how diverse and rich this beautiful continent is when it comes to food. Which is your favorite from the list? Which ones are missing?
Cover picture @sydneyalexandria
