Top Dishes in Latin American Cuisine (2024)

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Churrasco
• Empanada
• Tamal
• Chipá
• Feijoada (Brazil)
• Mole poblano(Mexico)
• Bandeja paisa (Colombia)
• Asado (Argentina)
• Curanto (Chile)
• Ceviche (Peru)
• Encebollado (Ecuador)
• Pabellón criollo (Venezuela)
• Ropa vieja (Cuba)

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Churrasco
• Empanada
• Tamal
• Chipá
• Feijoada (Brazil)
• Mole poblano(Mexico)
• Bandeja paisa (Colombia)
• Asado (Argentina)
• Curanto (Chile)
• Ceviche (Peru)
• Encebollado (Ecuador)
• Pabellón criollo (Venezuela)
• Ropa vieja (Cuba)

Practice your Latin American Spanish with these fun phrases

Following the launch of theQS Latin America University Rankings, we’re celebrating all things great about the region – including its food.

As mentioned in our previous look atbeautiful places in Latin America, the region is home to a wide variety of culinary delights, each using a distinctive combination of spices and fresh ingredients. Every Latin American country has its own unique dishes and specialties to sample, as well as its own popular regional condiments, such as guacamole,pico de gallo, andpebre.

Join us as we take a salivating tour ofLatin American cuisine, starting with dishes that transcend national borders and are found across the region, and then taking a closer look at some regional specialties.

Churrascois a Portuguese and Spanish term referring to beef or grilled meat and is a prominent feature in Latin American cuisine, popular in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Uruguay. A restaurant serving grilled meat is known as achurrascaria(steakhouse). Often restaurants serve all-you-can-eatchurrascobuffets, with waiters slicing meat onto patrons’ plates – this is calledespeto corridoorrodizioand is particularly popular in Brazil.

A popular snack in Latin American cuisine, anempanada(pastelin Brazilian Portuguese andsalteñain Bolivia) is a baked or fried bread or pastry which is stuffed with meat, cheese,huitlacoche(“corn smut”, a delicacy in Mexico), vegetables or fruits, among other fillings. Both savory and sweet versions are available.

Found across Latin American cuisine, and known as ahumintain Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile, atamal(or tamale in English)is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made usingmasa(starchy, corn-based dough) and filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables or chilies, then steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper.

Achipáis a small, baked cheese-flavored roll, which is a popular snack and breakfast food in Brazil (calledpão de queijo), Colombia (calledpandebono) and Ecuador (calledpan de yuccain the Coast Region). It is also consumed in Paraguay and Argentina (calledchipa'íorchipacitos) and Bolivia (calledcuñapé). A common variant in Paraguay is thechipá guazú, with the country’s Coronel Bogado city considered the National Capital of the Chipá.

The traditional and national Brazilian dishfeijoadais a stew of black beans cooked with meat (usually pork and/or beef) and served with rice, vegetables, assorted sausages such aschouriço,morcela(blood sausage) andfarinheira, and a variety of side dishes includingfarofai(toasted manioc flour).

What to drink:Caipirinha, Brazil’s national co*cktail, is made withcachaça(brandy made with sugar cane), ice, sugar and lime. Also popular in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo isbatida,made with cachaça, fruit juice or coconut milk and sugar.

Best place to eat:Although traditionally eaten on Saturdays, Casa da Feijoada near the Ipanema metro station in Rio de Janeiro servesfeijoadaevery day.

Where to study in Brazil?Brazil boasts more entries in the QS Latin America University Rankings than any other country, with 95 Brazilian institutions making the top 400, including three in the top 10, and its Universidade de São Paulo is ranked secondoverall.

What is Mole?is a generic name for a number of sauces used in Mexican cuisine, butmole poblanois probably the best known of allvarieties, and is often considered Mexico’s national dish. Containing around 20 ingredients, of which the most notable are chili and chocolate, this dark sauce is usually served over turkey and often at special occasions.

What to drink:Tequila, made with blue agave (type of cactus) and trademarked to manufacturers in Mexico. Mexico also makes a large variety of beers. A traditional non-alcoholic beverage isatole, a masa-based hot corn drink withpiloncillo, cinnamon and vanilla.

Best place to eat:La Casita Poblana and El Mural de los Poblanos, both in Calle 16 de Septiembre in Puebla.

Where to study in Mexico?A total of 64 Mexican institutions feature in the QS Latin America University Rankings, of which two make the top 10. The highest of these, in fourthplace, isUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), which is based in the capital, Mexico City, one of the world’s top 100 cities for students in theQS Best Student Citiesindex.

Popular in the Antioquia department of Colombia and the Paisa region,bandeja paisais a platter-style meal served in a large, oval-shaped tray and consisting of a generous variety of different foods. Traditional items include red beans cooked with pork, white rice,carne molida(ground meat),chicharrón, fried egg, plantain, chorizo,arepa(flatbread),hogaosauce,morcilla(black pudding), avocado and lemon.

What to drink:Colombia’s national alcoholic beverage is the anise-flavoredAguardiente (guaro), which is drunk as a shot, but the country is also well-known for its wines, coffee, ice creams and sodas.

Best place to eat:Bandeja paisais common across Colombia and native to the Andino region, with gourmet (smaller and lighter) courses available in good restaurants in Bogotá or Medellín.

Where to study in Colombia?TheUniversidad de Los Andes Colombiais currently in fifthplace in the QS Latin America University Rankings, while 60 more Colombian universities are ranked within the region’s top 400.

What is Asado?is a term used for particular barbecue techniques, and also for the social event surrounding the barbecue. Considered Argentina’s national dish but also traditional to Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, the main ingredient inasadois flank-cut beef ribs flavored withchimichurriand cooked on a grill called aparilla, or on an open fire.Asadoalso includesembutidos(cured sausages), different meats including poultry and sweetbreads, bread, mixed salad andverdurajo(grilled vegetables).

What to drink:Explore Argentina’s wide selection of wines, the most popular being Mendoza. Or, go the traditional route withyerba mate,a caffeine-rich herbal drink containing stimulating vitamins and minerals.

Best place to eat:There are countlessparillasin Argentina, with two famous ones being La Cabrera and El Desnivel, both in Buenos Aires.

Where to study in Argentina?Argentina’s capital cityBuenos Airesis placed 25^thin the most recent QS Best Student Cities index. The country has 43 institutions in the new QS Latin America University Rankings, led byUniversidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)in eighth place.

The traditional food of Chiloé Archipelago off the coast of Chile,curantois traditionally prepared in a hole dug in the ground and covered with stones which are heated until red. Typical ingredients include shellfish, meat,milcaoandchapaleles(potato pancake and potato dumpling respectively), and other vegetables.Curantopreparation is specific: ingredients are covered withnalca(Chilean rhubarb) leaves, then covered with wet sacks, dirt and grass chunks, creating a pressure cooker effect.

What to drink:A wide range of wines are available, while Chileanpisco(brandy made from Muscat grapes) is used in many co*cktails.Mote con Huesillois a summertime drink made with wheat seeds (mote) and dried peaches (huesillos).

Best place to eat:While you can arrange acurantoyourself, for a truly authentic experience visit Chiloé. Particularly recommended is Kuranton, a restaurant in Chiloé’s capital city Ancud which offers this indigenous meal for tourists.

Where to study in Chile?Taking the top spot in this year’s QS Latin America University Rankings is Chile’sPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC). The country has 39 more institutions in the region’s top 400, while capital city Santiago is ranked joint 63^rd in the QS Best Student Cities index.

What is Ceviche?, orcebiche, is a dish of fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices (key lime ornaranja agria­– bitter orange) and spiced withají(chili peppers). Onion, salt and pepper are also added to the marinade, which is often served in a small glass as an appetizer (leche de tigreorleche de panteraI) along with chunks of corn-on-the-cob and cooked sweet potato.

Also popular in Ecuador and Chile,cevicheis part of Peru’s national heritage – June 28^thisDía Nacional del Cebiche(National Ceviche Day). Note that locals tend to avoidcevichelate in the day as allcevicheis made fresh from that morning’s catch.

What to drink:Peruvian pisco sour with key lime (or lemon) juice, syrup, ice, egg white, and Angostura bitters. Peru is the world’s largest producer of organic coffee, whilemate de coca(Coca Tea) is legal to drink.

Best place to eat:There is at least onecevicheríain every neighborhood in capital city Lima, while mostcriollorestaurants includecevicheon their menus. Popular restaurants in Lima include La Mar, Chez Wong, El Mercado and Pescados Capitales.

Where to study in Peru?Peru has a respectable 20 institutions in the top 400 of this year’s QS Latin America University Rankings, with its highest ranked beingPontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, which sits comfortably in 21^stplace.

Encebolladomeans “cooked with onions” and is an Ecuadorian fish stew, which is commonly regarded as a national dish. Served with boiledcassavaoryuccaand picked red onion rings,encebolladoalso includes fresh tomato and spices such as pepper and coriander leaves. It is usually served with ripe avocado, plantain, popcorn, toasted corn nuts and/or bread.

What to drink:There are many options for exotic fruit juices includingnaranjilla(a jungle fruit) andtaxo(banana passionfruit). Abatidais fruit juice made with milk. The strongaguardiente(fire water) made with fermented sugarcane is arguably Ecuador’s national alcoholic drink.

Best place to eat:Port town Guayaquil in Ecuador’s coastal region has many restaurants (such as La Canoa) that offer traditional seafood dishes.

Where to study in Ecuador?Of Ecuador’s 18 entries in the QS Latin America University Rankings, it has three in the top 100, with its highest-ranked beingUniversidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) at 60th.

Traditionally consumed for lunch and considered by many to be the Venezuelan national dish,pabellón criolloconsists of rice with stewed black beans and shredded beef. Often served withtajadas(fried plantain slices) and/or a fried egg, some also add granulated sugar orqueso palmitaover the beans, or hot sauce over the meat. The beef can be replaced bychigüire(capybara), shredded caiman meat or freshwater fish depending on the region and season.

What to drink:Whisky is popular among Venezuelans, while Venezuelan-made rum is dark and of good quality. A popular drink ischicha andina, which is made from fermented pineapple juice and rice or corn flour. To sample the best Venezuelan coffee, ask forde la maquina(machine-made)café con leche, marronaornegrito.

Best place to eat:La Cocina de Francy in La Candelaria – an area filled with Spanish restaurants in Caracas.

Where to study in Venezuela?Although Venezuela has only nine institutions in the QS Latin America University Rankings, they are all well-placed, with four in the top 100 and the highest-ranked beingUniversidad Central de Venezuelain joint 40^thplace.

Literally translated as “old clothes”,ropa vieja’s shredded beef is indeed reminiscent of shredded rags of clothing.Ropa viejais often accompanied by fried plantain, black beans and rice. An important flavoring is the Cuban staplesofrito, made with sautéed onions, green peppers and garlic cooked with tomatoes. Extra additions to the sauce can include sausages or smoked meat, or wine, dry sherry or beer.

What to drink:Cuban light rums, mixed in national co*cktailscuba libre(rum and cola) andmojito(rum, lime, sugar, salt, mint leaves, club soda and ice).

Best place to eat:The best Cuban food is often found at thepaladares, unofficial restaurants run in private homes and not endorsed by the government. One option is La Cocina De Lilliam in Playa, Havana.

Where to study in Cuba?Cuba’sUniversidad de la Habanaleads its six institutions in theQS Latin America University Rankings.

Image sources: laylita.com(encebollado).

This article was originally published in June 2014. It was last updated in May 2022.

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