Latin Twist

When you think of Latin American food, burritos, quesadillas, tacos may be your first thought. However, Latin America is full of delectable dishes that are way beyond this small, mainstream selection. Adding the flavors, textures, techniques and ingredients of Latin American cuisine to familiar, everyday meals can create new, modern plays on your favorites with the added bonus of an inherently Latin twist!

Chorizo, a sausage made of pork meat, pork fat and plenty of paprika, is abundant in Spain and the Americas. Some chorizos just rely on salt for flavoring, while others utlitize spices like dried chili peppers for added heat. All can be incredibly versatile when paired with the right combination of ingredients. For this installment of Latin Twist, we took simple pizzas and added an Argentine spin to a classic American pie by using a kale-based chimichurri (usually made with parsley, oregano and garlic) and chorizo. In-season asparagus takes on a whole new meaning when topped with garlic and chorizo, showcasing the sausage's smoky flavor. Chorizo is again in the spotlight in a simple soup full of roasted squash, carrots, caramelized onions and sweet, roasted garlic.

Black beans, or frijoles negros, are often associated with being a side dish imperative to whole hearted meal enjoyment in many Latin countries. Here we use black beans in another way, creating vegetarian burgers topped by another traditional Latin staple: sweet plantains. Heat comes from piri piri, a chili pepper that grows in South Africa, but if you prefer a little less heat, use fresh diced jalapeño in the burger mix, instead. 

Black beans' better half is rice, but in our twist, we taken away the beans, and added a fruity component to white rice in the form of mango, coconut, and cherries. Inherently Latin and absolutely delicious!

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Golden Soup Topped with Chorizo

Click here for the full recipe.

Garlic Asparagus with Chorizo

Piri Piri Black Bean Burgers with Plantains

• 3 cups of cooked black beans
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 4 piri piri dried chilies or 1 whole jalapeno, diced with ribs and seeds removed
• 1 teaspoon of Paprika
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon of finely chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

Click here for the full recipe.

Mini Kale Chimichurri Pizza

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Arroz con Coco