South American Food

Broa de milho is a traditional Portuguese bread, a simple yeasted cornbread shaped into a flat round. Broa made it's way to Brazil, where it became a little bit sweeter and is typically flavored with fennel or anise seeds.

Portuguese Broa de Milho
Brazilian Broa de Milho

These crispy potato fries are popular bar and restaurant fare in Spain.  They are served with both "fierce" (brava) tomato sauce as well as a creamy mayonnaise/garlic sauce.  Definitely an upscale plate of steak fries.

Papas Bravas - Steak Fries with Spicy Tomato Sauce

More Potato Recipes...
Papas Chorreadas - Colombian Potatoes with Cheese Sauce
Roasted Andean Potatoes - Papas Criollas al Horno
Papa Rellena
Tortilla a la Espanola con Chorizo

This version of arroz con pollo is popular in Nicaragua, and features interesting extras like ham (or chorizo sausage), olives, red bell peppers, peas, and tomatoes, It's often seasoned with beer. Valencia (the apparent inspiration for this dish) is a region of Spain that is known for its characteristic paella. This Latin American version of Valencian paella does not include rabbit and snails, fortunately.

Chicken and Rice a la Valenciana - Arroz con Pollo Nicaraguense

More About Paella...

These sweet corn muffins start with the same easy to prepare batter as the Brazilian cake bolo de fuba, but they have a bonus: a surprise filling of guava fruit.

Corn Muffins with Guava - Bolinhos de Fuba con Goiabada
More About Goaibada (Guava Paste)

Cinco de Mayo (the 5th of May) is a Mexican holiday (widely celebrated in the US as well)  commemorating a famous Mexican battle against Napolean's army in 1862 in Puebla, Mexico.  Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's independence day, however, as is sometimes assumed in the US.  Read more about the history of Cinco de Mayo here, and celebrate with these Cinco de Mayo recipe top picks from Chelsie Kenyon, About.com's guide to Mexican Food.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes...
How to Make a Margarita - Video
Pan Dulce - Mexican Sweet Bread
Flan Cake
Churros - Cinnamon Doughnut Sticks
Fish Tacos
Cinco de Mayo in Mexico
Cinco de Mayo Menu Ideas
More About Cinco de Mayo

These soft cookies are made with finely ground cornmeal and zesty lime. RIcotta cheese gives them a soft, cakey texture.

These banana nut cookies have a similar cake-like texture, and lots of banana flavor.

Recipe for Lime Cornmeal Cookies
Recipe for Banana Nut Cookies

This is the perfect recipe for late night cravings. A single serving of tres leches cake in less than five minutes. All you need is a mug, the ingredients, and a microwave. (It amazes me that the cake comes out so tender and fluffy in the microwave). Tres leches cake is normally enjoyed cold, but to keep things under 5 minutes, you'll have to enjoy this version warm (it's actually delicious that way). If you must have it cold, top it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Quick Tres Leches Cake in a Mug - Pastel de Tres Leches en Taza de Café
Dulce de Leche Brownie in a Mug

These delicate croissant-like pastries have a surprise filling of dulce de membrillo, or quince paste. Quince paste is a delicious jam-like concoction made from quince fruit, and it is excellent in desserts and pastries but it is also often paired with cheese.
Sacramentos - Croissants with Quince Paste

Flaky Pastry Dough - Masa Hojaldre Para Facturas
Pasta Frola de Dulce de Membrillo - Quince Tart
Manchego Cheese and Quince Paste Hors d'Oeuvres
Quince Doughnuts - Pastelitos de Membrillo

I just came across this recipe from on About.com's Latin Caribbean Food site.  Fresh corn on the cob cooked in coconut milk - yum! That combination of coconut and corn is common in South American cooking, especially in desserts, and it's very good.  Corn is both sweet and starchy, like sweet potatoes, and so it can be quite delicious in cakes, puddings, and even beverages.

Guyanese Boiled Corn

More Sweet Corn Recipes...
Torta de Choclo - Colombian Fresh Corn Soufflé
Arepas de Choclo - Sweet Corn Cakes with Cheese
Brazilian Corn Pudding - Curau de Milho Verde
Mazamorra Morada - Peruvian Purple Corn Pudding
Mandocas - Venezuelan Corn Fritters
Chicha Morada - Spiced Purple Corn Drink

This unique Peruvian bread comes from the Oropesa, a small city near Cusco (known as the la ciudad del pan, or city of bread). Pan chuta is sweet, lightly spiced with cinnamon and anise, and is shaped into a large disk and decorated with pretty designs. The breads are baked in traditional wood burning ovens, and sold everywhere in Cusco and the surrounding regions. Large enough to share, they are often given as gifts.

Pan Chuta - Sweet Anise Bread from the Peruvian Andes

More About Oropesa and Pan Chuta
Peruvian Chancay Bread - Receta de Chancay
Pan de Tres Puntas