Soups, Appetizers, & First Courses
Recipes for South American Appetizers
A collection of South American appetizers, from entradas (first courses) to bocaditos (little bites).
South American-style Dips and Salsas
This collection of recipes for South American dips and salsas will in handy for those times when you have an excess of tortilla chips lying around, but these dips and salsas can be used in many other creative ways. Try serving them over chicken and rice, or with pasta, with vegetables, or as part of a filling for burritos or empanadas.
Tequenos - Venezuelan Cheese Sticks
Tequenos are a popular Venezuelan snack of fried cheese that is wrapped in a crispy dough.
Crispy Yuca Fries
Deep frying yuca is one of the best ways to enjoy the starchy, crispy texture of this edible root.
Tequenos - Venezuelan Fried Cheese Sticks
These fried cheese pastries are always a hit.
Fugazza - Argentinian-style Focaccia
This Argentinian favorite is a focaccia-like pizza topped with lots of onions.
Picada Argentina - A Sampler Tray of Cured Meats and Cheeses
Host an Argentinian-style gathering and serve a picada - a meal of cured meats and cheeses for everyone to share.
Lime Chicken Empanadas with Mango Sauce
Tender shredded chicken seasoned with chile and lime fills these appetizer size empanandas.
Biche de Pescado - Ecuadorian Fish Stew
This hearty fish stew is made with plantains, yuca, and corn.
Boliarepas - Bacon Cheddar Arepa Bites
These round "boliarepas" are made with a soft cornmeal dough and deep fried, similar to hush puppies.
Arepas with Black-eyed Peas and Collard Greens - Arepitas con Frijol Carita
These bite-size arepas are perfect for a New Years celebration, since they are topped with lucky black-eyed peas and sautéed collard greens.
Sweet Potato Tamales with Bacon - Tamales de Camote con Tocino y Cebolla
These tamales filled with sweet potatoes, bacon and caramelized onions are both savory and sweet.
Tricolor Causa - Causa de Pollo Tres Colores
An elegant appetizer, causa is made of vividly colored potatoes layered with chicken salad.
Chupe de Maní - Potato and Peanut Soup
This nourishing potato soup from Ecuador is quick to make from pantry staples.
Locro de Papa Ecuatoriano
A hearty, cheesy, traditional potato soup from Ecuador.
Sopa de Mani - Bolivian Peanut and Potato Soup
A nourishing potato and peanut soup from Bolivia.
Shrimp Ceviche with Mango & Avocado - Cebiche de Langostinos
This shrimp ceviche with mango and avocado tastes cool, bright, and refresing. It's great as a appetizer or a light lunch.
Sweet Potato Empanadas - Empanadas de Camote
These savory sweet potato empanadas are stuffed with caramelized onions, bacon, and queso fresco cheese.
Spanish Tortilla with Sweet Potatoes and Bacon - Torta Espanola de Camote
This frittata-type dish from Spain is made with eggs and potatoes, and works well as an appetizer or main course.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
A creamy winter soup seasoned with cumin and smoky aji chile peppers.
Flatbread with Queso Fresco, Tomatoes, Rosemary, and Olives
Quick flatbreads with creamy queso fresco cheese, sundried tomatoes, rosemary, and olives.
Empanadas with Mushrooms, Chorizo, and Cheese
Chorizo and mushroom empanadas with a rich cheese filling.
Caldo Verde
Caldo verde is a nourishing green soup made with potatoes, kale or collard greens, and sausage. Caldo verde comes from Portugal, and is quite popular in Brazil.
Muchines de Yuca - Ecuadorian Yuca Fritters
Muchines de yuca are fried yuca fritters, in this case stuffed with seasoned pork.
Queso Fundido - Melted Cheese and Chorizo Dip
Chorizo sausage spices up this delicious and easy to make hot cheese dip.
Turkey "Tortilla" Soup with Arepa Dumplings
A nourishing tex mex style soup, with arepa dumplings.
Garden Produce Tamales
These vegetarian tamales have a savory filling of corn, vegetables, and cheese.
Humitas Verdes - Fresh Corn Tamales with Cilantro - Recipe for Humitas Verdes
Tamales made with fresh ground corn and cilantro.
Ajiaco
Ajiaco is a hearty chicken stew made with potatoes and corn on the cob.
Cheesy Quinoa Poppers - Croquetas de Quinoa y Queso
Tasty yet nutritious: fried quinoa croquettes filled with cheese.
Grilled Fresh Corn Tamales - Tamales a la Parilla
These tamales are easy to cook on the grill, right alongside grilled meats.
"Stuffed" Ham & Cheese Garbanzo Flatbread - Fainá Rellena con Jamón y Queso
Fainá is an Italian pizza-like flatbread made with garbanzo bean flour, and is often served with pizza in Argentina and Uruguay.
Pizza Empanadas - Empanadas de Pizza
Pizza empanadas make a great snack for kids, as well as fun party appetizers.
Spanish Tortilla with Chorizo - Tortilla a la Espanola con Chorizo
A hearty Spanish omelette made with eggs, potatoes, and chorizo sausage.
Savory Cheese Empanadas with Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Cauliflower
Small, tender empanadas with a flaky, cheesy crust, are filled with mashed potatoes and roasted cauliflower.
Savory Butternut Squash Sopaipillas with Chancho en Piedra
A typical Chilean fry bread made with butternut squash, served with a spicy tomato sauce for dipping.
Papas Bravas - Steak Fries with Spicy Tomato Sauce
These thick cut steak fries are served with a spicy tomato "ketchup" and a creamy aji sauce.
Tropical Sushi Roll - Japanese/South American Fusion Roll
An exotic sushi roll with the tropical flavors of passionfruit, mango and avocado.
Green Soup with Chiles - Recipe for Spinach and Kale Soup
A delicious vegetarian soup packed with nutrition from dark leafy greens.
Quick Empanadas with Seasoned Pork and Cheese
These tasty empanadas are quick to make, thanks to the convenience of frozen puff pastry dough.
Black-eyed Pea Salsa - Salsa de Frijol de Carita
This spicy and slightly sweet bean salsa is great with tortilla chips.
Brazilian Fried Rice Balls - Bolinhos de Arroz
These Brazilian fried rice croquettes are an excellent way to enjoy leftover rice.
Sweet Potato Causa - Causa de Camote
This attractive Peruvian-style causa made with sweet potatoes is perfect for a fancy holiday meal.
Quinoa Croquettes - Croquetas de Quinua
This crispy ham and cheese quinoa croquettes make a great appetizer.
Coconut Butternut Squash Soup - Sopa de Abóbora e Coco
This rich butternut squash soup gets a taste of the tropics thanks from coconut milk.
Quinoa Crackers - Galletas Saladas de Quinoa
These slightly spicy crackers had lots of flavor and are made with nutritious quinoa.
Black Quinoa Beef Stew with Potatoes - Sopa de Quinoa
This hearty stew of black quinoa, beef, and potatoes will keep you going all day long.
Tequeños - Fried Cheese Wonton Sticks
Tequeños are a Venezuelan treat, best enjoyed with guacamole. These crispy cheesy treats are fun and easy to make.
Traditional Acarajé - Brazilian Black Eyed Pea Fritters
Acaraje are fritters made with black eyed peas, and are a popular street food snack in Brazil.
Ham and Potato Croquettes - Croquetas de Jamon y Queso
This croquettes are made of mashed potatoes, ham and cheese. Make them bite-size and serve as an appetizer, or make larger ones as a main course.
Cheddar Potato Frittata - Torta Espanola con Queso
Potatoes, eggs, and cheese come together in this one-skillet comfort food dish from Spain.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup - Crema de Zapallo
A creamy, flavorful soup with pumpkin, chile peppers, and queso fresco cheese.
Baby Potatoes with Creamy Aji Amarillo Dipping Sauce
A quick and easy party appetizer that's sure to please.
Stuffed Yuca Balls - Yuquitas Rellenas
Mashed yuca (also known as cassava or manioc root) is shaped into bite-size balls with a piece of queso fresco in the center, then rolled in bread crumbs and fried until crispy. Serve them with salsa huancaína, a spicy cheese dipping sauce.
Fainá - Garbanzo Flatbread
Fainá is an flatbread made with chickpea (garbanzo) flour. It's very popular in both Argentina and Uruguay, and often served with pizza.
Peruvian Shrimp and Potato Chowder - Chupe de Camarones
A thick and hearty shrimp chowder with yellow potatoes and corn.
Torta Espanola - Potato and Onion Frittata
This hearty one-skillet dish is simple yet satisfying.
Black-eyed Pea Soup with Ham - Sopa de Jamon y Frijoles de Ojo Negro
This flavorful soup is easy to make and will warm you up on a winter night.
Queso Fundido - Spicy Cheese and Chorizo Dip
Chorizo sausage, onions, and salsa spice up this melted cheese dip.
Lentil Soup with Chorizo - Sopa de Lentejas
This hearty lentil soup will warm you up on a cold day.
Avocado Soup - Sopa de Palta
A creamy, savory soup made with avocados, chorizo, and chicken broth.
Brazilian Black-Eyed Pea and Shrimp Fritters - Acarajé
Traditional street food from Brazil, these deep-fried black-eyed pea fritters are split and stuffed with caramelized onions and shrimp.
Argentinian Grilled Provolone Cheese
Provoleta is grilled provolone cheese, and Argentinian specialty.
Quince Paste - Dulce de Membrillo
Quince paste is a sweet candy made from the delicious apple-like quince fruit. Quince paste is delicious served with cheese.
Salmon and Pineapple Skewers - Brochetas de Salmon y Piña
These salmon and pineapple skewers are sweet, salty, and savory all at the same time.