If you are tired of the same french fries for lunch, here is a great swap: cassava fries with mojito sauce. First let me clarify this: yucca root and cassava are the SAME things. Here in Portugal it’s called mandioca. It’s a starchy, tuberous root that is used as a major source of carbohydrate in … Read more
Dense, creamy, gooey pumpkin cake or torta de auyama / calabaza. This is not your regular pumpkin spice cake. This is the next level of pumkin craziness. I was waiting for a sad day when I extremely missed my mom to make this cake. It’s been officially three years without seeing her since I left … Read more
Gallo pinto is just fried rice with black beans. It may sound simple, but it has a lot of personality; onion, bell pepper and garlic “sofrito” that makes these beans shine. Despite that gallo pinto is literally translated as “spotted rooster”, this recipe is 100% vegetarian. This is a flavorful latin option for a meatless … Read more
A big bowl of cóctel de camarones (Latin American shrimp cocktail) is the perfect light lunch or appetizer for a hot summer day. It’s refreshing, sweet and sour at the same time. Cóctel de camarones is different from the classic shrimp cocktail made in the US. Usually, a shrimp cocktail is boiled shrimp accompanied by … Read more
A good piece of bistec empanizado or milanesa de res (the name varies from countries in South America) is one of the easiest Latin dinner ideas. This is another old-fashioned Venezuelan recipe that never disappoints. This recipe is pretty much a beef steak version of a milanesa de pollo. The preparation method is just the … Read more
Pinchos de pollo is the Latin American version of chicken kebabs or chicken skewers. I guess that the idea of pieces of chicken — or meat —- in skewers is nothing new. But, here I bring you a version with a Latin touch that is so simple to make. One of the cool things about … Read more
Pasticho is the Venezuelan version of Italian lasagna. Layers of pasta, bolognese sauce, bechamel, mozzarella cheese, ham and topped with a lot of parmesan cheese. A scrumptious, indulgent and filling dinner. Pasticho Sundays were my favorite days at my “Tia Meche’s” house — my aunt Mercedes’. And the recipe comes directly from my grandma. My … Read more
Pastelitos de guayaba y queso (Guava cheese pastries) are one of the easiest and yummiest dessert recipes that I know. 4 ingredients + 15 minutes, quick and easy! There is not a flavor that is more representative of South American countries than guava. We live for guava juices and sweets. In Venezuela we even made … Read more
Latin American caldo de res is a staple dish in our gastronomy. It is a hearty comfort dish that you can prepare with a wide variety of vegetables. If you have a cold there is not a better homemade remedy than a plate of soup. My mom used to call her recipe for caldo de … Read more
If you ever go to a Venezuelan beach — just look at Los Roques — you won’t escape a big plate with pescado frito, patacones and coleslaw. Eating pescado frito during a beach visit is key to the fullest Venezuelan beach experience. What type of fish to use for “pescado frito”? In Venezuela, we use … Read more