Tortillas and Other Latinx Food Staples that Are Easy to Make en Casa

We are eating from home now more than ever. Not only is it necessary during coronavirus, but it also allows us to eat healthier and save money. It’s no surprise, then, that people are looking for new things to make at home. Or, they’re learning the classics. 2020 is the year to use that extra time at home making the same delicious food our mothers and grandmothers made for the family.

While you can scroll on Pinterest for recipes, search through cooking blogs, and search on YouTube for Latin cooking tutorials, we wanted to save you the time so you can get right to making delicious meals. And we wanted to start with curating the tried-and-true Latinx food staples that we’ve always wanted to learn how to make. Here are 15 Latino culinary classics that are super easy to make en casa.

Tortillas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uryKpTSxPF8

Tortillas are a Latin food staple that are not only delicious by themselves, but also allow for several meals to be made with tasty ingredients, including tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and chilaquiles. This video from Views from the Road shows you how to make your own fresh flour tortillas from scratch.

wp_*posts

Rice

Is it really a Latinx meal without rice? Usually, no. Rice is such a major ingredient for so many Latin food dishes. And, it’s often the first thing we learn how to make at home, partly because it’s so easy. Tasty shows us how to make perfect rice every time in this informative video on YouTube.

wp_*posts

Platanos Maduros

Another Latin food staple are plantains. Also known as green bananas or cooking bananas, platanos can be prepared sweet or savory. Platanos maduros are a Latinx staple that give a sweet edge to a plate of rice, beans, and meat. Deliciously Sweet and Savory shares how to make these tasty treats in this video.

wp_*posts

Pico de Gallo

We can’t even count the number of times we’ve scooped some pico de gallo on crispy tortilla chips. The salsa is easy to make, using tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime, and salt. You’ll want to make it in quarantine, and throw it on everything. This video by Sweet y Salado gives you all the steps.

wp_*posts

Pupusas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43WRUL6LeMs

If there’s ever a year in which we need some cozy comfort food, 2020 is it. We need ooey gooey, cheesy, and nostalgic. Salvadorian pupusas are just the dish. And, they’re so easy to make. Views on the Road shares this easy-to-follow YouTube tutorial for pupusas, curtido, and salsa.

wp_*posts

Sazon

Whether your’e boycotting Goya, want to make a healthier sazon at home, or both, it’s simple to make this flavorful seasoning. We love this video from Sweets and Beyond, which details how to make sazon con achiote, as well as Puerto Rican-style adobo, and salad and vegetable seasonings.

wp_*posts

Refried Beans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_l2RhftZQs

Beans are another huge Latin food staple. It’s the BFF of rice, and a side to beef, chicken, and other meats. It’s full of fiber, filling, and much healthier to make at home (without lard!). Views on the Road has this video, showing how to make delicious, easy refried beans that can star in so many en-casa meals.

wp_*posts

Yuca Frita

Yuca, a.k.a. cassava, is a South American starchy root vegetable that is present in meals all over Latin America. One way to eat this yummy veggie is fried; it works as a great way to revamp traditional fries. Vegan Sazon created a video of a totally vegan dish of cassava fries with a cilantro garlic sauce.

wp_*posts

Carne Asada

For those who look forward to asados during the summer, and the meaty deliciousness those bring, we have the ultimate carne asada how-to by Claudia Regalado. We’re talking flank steak, cilantro, orange, white wine vinegar, cumin, California chili powder, lime, and other tasty ingredients.

wp_*posts

Elote

Corn has been a part of what is today Mexico for over 7,000 years. Since then, Indigenous, Mexican and other Latinx cultures have utilized corn in countless recipes. One of the very best is elote. This supersized Mexican street corn is loaded with so much flavor, from cotija cheese, chili powder, mayo, butter, and more. In this video, Smokin’ & Grillin’ wit AB shows us how it’s all done.

wp_*posts

Empanadas

Sure, empanadas differ from Latin country to Latin country, but they’re all so very delicious. And they’re easy to make. Once you get the shell down, you can have fun changing up the filling, from savory options to sweet dessert versions. In this video, Evelyn Dominguez makes delicious beef empanadas, and shows us how to as well.

wp_*posts

Chimichurri

Chimichurri is synonymous with Argentina, and Uruguay. This flavorful sauce, in green or red, is made up of ingredients such as parsley, red or white wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and oregano. It is used to flavor grilled meat, which is another huge food staple in these countries. In this video from La Capital, you’ll learn not only how to make delicious chimichurri, but also how to make some roasted meat to pour it on.

wp_*posts

Arroz con Leche

The holiday season is right around the corner, and one of the best comfort foods we expect to see on the beautifully-set table is arroz con leche. It’s sweet, soothing, and full of nostalgia. And, it’s easy to make. We got all the steps you need to follow here in this abuelita-approved recipe from Abuela’s Kitchen.

wp_*posts

Cafecito

We love coffee, and one of the best forms of cafe is a delicious, and strong AF Cuban coffee, a.k.a. cafecito. Bring Miami to you, as well as a bunch of caffeine, with this DIY recipe by MokaBees. You’re day will be way more efficient for it.

wp_*posts

Ceviche

A refreshing, delicious Latinx meal that’s perfect for summer is ceviche. Synonymous with Peru, ceviche is a raw seafood dish that is cooked by lime juice. Munchies went straight to the ceviche expert, the “father of ceviche,” chef Javier Wong, so that we can all learn how to cook this South American delicacy.