Soups, Appetizers, & First Courses
Meals are never rushed in South America, and there is always time for an entrada, or first course, in the main meal of the day. Bocaditos (“little bites”) are bite-size appetizers to enjoy with drinks while socializing or watching your favorite soccer team.
Chunky-style Guasacaca
A chunky-style guacamole from Venezuela to serve with grilled meats.
A chunky-style guacamole from Venezuela to serve with grilled meats.
Lime Chicken Empanadas with Mango Sauce
Tender shredded chicken seasoned with chile and lime fills these appetizer size empanandas.
Tender shredded chicken seasoned with chile and lime fills these appetizer size empanandas.
Mini Causa Bites - Spicy Yellow Potatoes with Chicken Salad
Little bites of creamy, spicy yellow potatoes with a surprise center of tasty chicken salad.
Little bites of creamy, spicy yellow potatoes with a surprise center of tasty chicken salad.
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.
This shrimp ceviche with mango and avocado tastes cool, bright, and refresing. It's great as a appetizer or a light lunch.
Ecuadorian Shrimp Ceviche with Tomato Sauce and Choclo - Ceviche de Langostinos
This Ecuadorian-style ceviche has a delicious Latin-style cocktail sauce with lots of fresh lime juice and large kernel Andean corn.
This Ecuadorian-style ceviche has a delicious Latin-style cocktail sauce with lots of fresh lime juice and large kernel Andean corn.
Vegetarian Ceviche Salad - Ceviche de Verduras
The flavors of ceviche in salad form, with fresh mozzarella cheese in place of seafood.
The flavors of ceviche in salad form, with fresh mozzarella cheese in place of seafood.
Spicy Deviled Eggs with Aji Chile Peppers
Truly devilish deviled eggs, thanks to spicy aji amarillo chile pepper.
Truly devilish deviled eggs, thanks to spicy aji amarillo chile pepper.
Brazilian Risoles - Chicken and Cheese Croquettes -
Risoles are an popular snack in Brazil. They are small fried croquettes filled with creamy chicken and cheese.
Risoles are an popular snack in Brazil. They are small fried croquettes filled with creamy chicken and cheese.
Quinoa Croquettes - Croquetas de Quinua
Delicious ham and parmesan cheese croquettes made with the Andean grain quinoa.
Delicious ham and parmesan cheese croquettes made with the Andean grain quinoa.
Guasacaca - Guacamole from Venezuela
Guasacaca is a popular relish in Venezuela, served with grilled meats and fried foods.
Guasacaca is a popular relish in Venezuela, served with grilled meats and fried foods.
Fugazza - Onion Pizza
Fugazza is a foccacia-like pizza popular in South America that does not have tomato sauce and is often topped with onions.
Fugazza is a foccacia-like pizza popular in South America that does not have tomato sauce and is often topped with onions.
Fried Plantain with Spicy Peanut Sauce - Bakabana from Suriname
A Surinamese dish with Indonesian influence, baka bana is battered, fried plantian served with a spicy peanut sauce for dipping.
A Surinamese dish with Indonesian influence, baka bana is battered, fried plantian served with a spicy peanut sauce for dipping.
Spicy Potato Pancakes with Queso Fresco Sauce
These potato pancakes have a little kick from jalepeño peppers, and some sweet potato in the mix adds nice flavor. The cheesy queso fresco sauce can be mild or spicy, depending on the amount of pepper.
These potato pancakes have a little kick from jalepeño peppers, and some sweet potato in the mix adds nice flavor. The cheesy queso fresco sauce can be mild or spicy, depending on the amount of pepper.
Fainá - Garbanzo Flatbread
Fainá is an Italian-style flatbread made from chickpea (garbanzo) flour that is popular in Uruguay and Argentina.
Fainá is an Italian-style flatbread made from chickpea (garbanzo) flour that is popular in Uruguay and Argentina.
Chicken Soup with Root Vegetables - Sancocho de Gallina
Sancocho has many forms in South American cooking, but it's usually a clear broth soup made with chicken and root vegetables. This version has sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, onions, carrots and leeks.
Sancocho has many forms in South American cooking, but it's usually a clear broth soup made with chicken and root vegetables. This version has sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, onions, carrots and leeks.
Black Bean Soup with Lime
A quick, low-fat black bean soup with the refreshing flavors of cumin and lime.
A quick, low-fat black bean soup with the refreshing flavors of cumin and lime.
Navy Bean and Corn Soup from Argentina - Locro de Argentina
Locro is the Spanish word for stew, or thick soup. This navy bean soup is a version of locro from Argentina. It's similar to corn chowder, and is made with beans, chorizo, beef, smoked bacon, and squash, and served with a spicy salsa.
Locro is the Spanish word for stew, or thick soup. This navy bean soup is a version of locro from Argentina. It's similar to corn chowder, and is made with beans, chorizo, beef, smoked bacon, and squash, and served with a spicy salsa.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup - Crema de Zapallo
This pumpkin soup is smooth and creamy, with a touch of chile pepper and queso fresco to liven it up.
This pumpkin soup is smooth and creamy, with a touch of chile pepper and queso fresco to liven it up.
Tropical Sushi Roll - Japanese/South American Fusion Roll
This sushi roll is popular in the Japanese restaurants in Peru. It's a sushi roll with the tropical flavors of mango and passion fruit, as well as shrimp and avocado. It's different and delicious.
This sushi roll is popular in the Japanese restaurants in Peru. It's a sushi roll with the tropical flavors of mango and passion fruit, as well as shrimp and avocado. It's different and delicious.
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.
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.
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.
Traditional street food from Brazil, these deep-fried black-eyed pea fritters are split and stuffed with caramelized onions and shrimp.
Causa Rellena con Pollo - Yellow Potatoes with Chicken
Causa is made with papas amarillas, yellow potatoes that resemble yukon golds. The potatoes are mashed and seasoned with lime juice and aji amarillo (yellow chile pepper), layered with chicken or tuna salad and slices of avocado, and garnished with parsley and black olives.
Causa is made with papas amarillas, yellow potatoes that resemble yukon golds. The potatoes are mashed and seasoned with lime juice and aji amarillo (yellow chile pepper), layered with chicken or tuna salad and slices of avocado, and garnished with parsley and black olives.
Brazilian Fried Rice Balls - Bolinhos de Arroz
These Brazilian fried rice croquettes are an excellent way to enjoy leftover rice.
These Brazilian fried rice croquettes are an excellent way to enjoy leftover rice.
Savory Quince Tart with Queso Freso - Pastel de Membrillo y Queso
The beloved flavor combination of sweet quince and salty cheese all dressed up in a puff pastry tart.
The beloved flavor combination of sweet quince and salty cheese all dressed up in a puff pastry tart.
Manchego Cheese and Quince Paste Hors d'Oeuvres
This famous little combination of aged cheese and sweet quince paste makes a quick and elegant appetizer for any occasion.
This famous little combination of aged cheese and sweet quince paste makes a quick and elegant appetizer for any occasion.
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.
Quince paste is a sweet candy made from the delicious apple-like quince fruit. Quince paste is delicious served with cheese.
Chifles - Fried Plantain Chips
Chifles are a popular snack in South America. They are made by frying thin slices of the starchy yellow fruit called plantain, a firmer, less sweet cousin of the banana.
Chifles are a popular snack in South America. They are made by frying thin slices of the starchy yellow fruit called plantain, a firmer, less sweet cousin of the banana.
Humitas - South American Corn Tamales
Humitas are made by steaming seasoned fresh ground corn inside the husks. They are lovely to look at and delicious to eat.
Humitas are made by steaming seasoned fresh ground corn inside the husks. They are lovely to look at and delicious to eat.
Queso de Cabra con Pimienta Molle - Goat Cheese with Pink Peppercorns
Serve this beautiful goat cheese log with crackers and quince jelly.
Serve this beautiful goat cheese log with crackers and quince jelly.
Tequeños - Fried Cheese Wonton Sticks
Tequeños are a Venezuelan treat, best enjoyed with guacamole. These crispy cheesy treats are fun and easy to make.
Tequeños are a Venezuelan treat, best enjoyed with guacamole. These crispy cheesy treats are fun and easy to make.