South American cuisine

South American cuisine has many influences, due to the ethnic fusion of South America. The most characteristic are Native American, African, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Indian-South Asian. However, there is a mix of European, North American, and indigenous cuisines.[1] The customs and food products greatly vary[2] according to the physically distinct regions.

For other American cuisines, see North American cuisine and Cuisine of the Americas.

Peruvian cuisine – tarateño sausages and other foods sold by a street vendor in Tarata, Peru
Shredded beef

Overview

The Amazon basin of South America provides a plethora of fresh fish and tropical fruits.[3] The Pacific Ocean provides a large amount of seafood, such as king crab (typically caught at the southern end of the continent), lobster (found in great quantities from the Juan Fernández Islands), and Antarctic krill, which was recently discovered. Tuna and tropical fish are caught all around the continent but are notably found in abundance near Easter Island. The many plains on this continent make it rich for growing foods like cereals, potatoes and quinoa. In the Patagonia region in the south of Argentina, many people raise sheep and cattle. In Brazil, a traditional dish is the feijoada, a stew consisting of beans with beef and pork. Rice and beans is also very common in Brazil.[4] Peruvian cuisine is largely influenced by traditional Incan culture (see Incan cuisine). The consumption of carne asada is widespread throughout much of the continent.[lower-alpha 1] It is popular to grill in the open air as in asado or churrasco. Shredded beef is common throughout South America and Latin America and is served with a variety of foods.[5]

By region

Andes
Pachamanca
Main articles: Argentine cuisine, Bolivian cuisine, Chilean cuisine, Ecuadorian cuisine, and Peruvian cuisine

The food of the Andes is highly influenced by the indigenous peoples. The principal foods continue to be corn, potatoes[6] and other tubers. The meats most characteristic of this zone are the llama (Peru) and the guinea pig (Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and the Argentine northwest). In areas where there is fresh water, trout is consumed. Chupe andino refers to various stews[7] and soups that are prepared in the Andes mountains region. One of the most important drinks is chicha.[8] Important dishes include humitas, locro, chanfaina, arepas, quimbolitos (dessert tamales), and peppers. A famous dish from the Peruvian Andes is pachamanca.[9] From the mixture of German, native cuisine, and the Chiloé Archipelago in the southern Andes comes valdiviano and curanto.

The wetter areas of Peru produce sugar cane, lemon, bananas, and oranges. Chancaca is popular as well as carbonara, sancocho, huevos quimbos, potato pie, and ch'arki.

Tropical
See also: Brazilian cuisine, Colombian cuisine, Paraguayan cuisine, and Venezuelan cuisine

The tropical region of the continent is divided into two distinct areas, the coastal areas of the Atlantic and the Pacific and the Amazon area each with its distinct cuisines. Much of the fruits that are considered to be exotic are common in the tropical forests and fields, such as guava, pineapple, papaya, mango, banana, and elderberry.

The climate and geography also favour a great variety of crops: potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, complemented with meat and fish; grains, principally rice, corn, and wheat and beans.

In the coastal area ceviche, tostones or patacón, arepa, chipa, sancocho, pabellón criollo, bandeja paisa, guatita, and sopa paraguaya are common dishes.

In Brazilian feijoada,[10] arroz carreteiro (cart riders rice), coxinha,[11] and farofa are common; Bahia, a state in Brazil, has its own cuisine which has heavy African influences.

The Amazon area is known for its utilization of native meats such as the capybara, turtles, peccary, and paca. Common dishes are juane, tacacho, tacacá. There are a wide variety of fruits native to the Amazon with which a great variety of drinks are prepared.

Pampas
Main articles: Argentine cuisine and Uruguayan cuisine

The pampas have the most Italian and German influences. In Argentina, they are the center of the three typical Argentinian dishes dulce de leche, asado (churrasco in Brazil), and milanesa. Argentina pizza is different from Italian pizza, being closer to calzones. Pasta and polenta are common in Argentina and on the Pampas generally. Empanadas and choripán are very popular fast food in Argentina and Uruguay. Churros, ensaïmada, alfajor, Spanish tortillas with potato, meatballs, sopa de mondongo, and puchero are Spanish derived Pampas cuisine. Mate is also found on the Pampas.[12]

Diffusion

United States

Early South American restaurants in the United States included Caso do Brazil in Reseda, California, which opened in 1955,[13] and the Machu Picchu nightclub in Miami, Florida, which opened in 1963, serving Peruvian dishes such as ceviche and anticuchos.[14] South American foods are increasingly imported into the United States, especially Brazilian foods such as guarana, guava paste, and cachaça (an ingredient in the caipirinha cocktail).[15]

Australia

As early as the 1950s, Latin American cuisine have been transported to the Southeast coast, where Sydney is.[16] Now there is a slight selection of Latin American restaurants that has spread across the country.

South American cuisine at restaurants
A ham like meat, known as feijoada is seen here.
The red snapper (fish), fried up.
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See also

Footnotes
  1. There appears to only be cirumstancial evidence, for which there are a few references.[footnote 1][footnote 2]
  1. “The Origins and Traditions of Carne Asada.” The Spruce, 1996, www.thespruce.com/carne-asada-mexican-steak-331500.
  2. Martin, Sasha. “Barbecued Meat:Carne Asada.” Global Table Adventure, August 21, 2015, globaltableadventure.com/recipe/recipe-barbecued-meat-carne-asada-w-poll/.Which by the way, they source "Life from Scratch" A National Geographic Special Book

References
  1. “An Introduction to South American Food.” The Spruce, www.thespruce.com/introduction-to-south-american-food-3029236.
  2. D, J.J.R.P. (2016). Filling Up: The Psychology of Eating. The Psychology of Everyday Life. ABC-CLIO. p. 152. ISBN 978-1-4408-4090-6. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  3. "Amazonian Cuisine." Brazil-travel-guide.com. Accessed July 2011.
  4. "The Definitive Vegetarian's Travel Guide to Eating in Meat-Loving Countries". HuffPost. September 28, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  5. Gutierrez, S.A. (2013). Latin American Street Food: The Best Flavors of Markets, Beaches, and Roadside Stands from Mexico to Argentina. University of North Carolina Press. p. 150. ISBN 978-1-4696-0881-5. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  6. Krögel, A. (2010). Food, Power, and Resistance in the Andes: Exploring Quechua Verbal and Visual Narratives. Lexington Books. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7391-4761-0. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  7. Palomino, R.; Gargagliano, A.; Cushner, S. (2002). Viva la Vida: Festive Recipes for Entertaining Latin-Style. Chronicle Books. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-8118-3184-0. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  8. Hornsey, I.S. (2012). Alcohol and Its Role in the Evolution of Human Society. Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 493. ISBN 978-1-84973-161-4. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  9. Graves, C.; Cabieses, F. (2001). The Potato Treasure of the Andes: From Agriculture to Culture. International Potato Center. p. 51. ISBN 978-92-9060-205-7. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  10. Behnke, A.; Duro, K.L. (2004). Cooking the Brazilian Way. Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks. Lerner Publications Company. p. 12. ISBN 978-0-8225-4111-0. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  11. Caregnato, E. (2016). Churrasco: Grilling the Brazilian Way. Gibbs Smith. p. pt40. ISBN 978-1-4236-4069-1. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  12. Henty, G.A. (2016). On the Pampas: Or, The Young Settlers. Floating Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-77667-435-0. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  13. "Caso do Brazil, Unique New Restaurant, Opens in Reseda" Valley News (July 28, 1955): 62. via Newspapers.com
  14. "With Knife and Fork" Miami News (January 5, 1964): 48. via Newspapers.com
  15. "Brazilian Foods Go Mainstream" The Journal News (January 29, 2001): 30. via Newspapers.com
  16. "The 12 Best Latin Restaurants in Sydney". Concrete Playground. May 31, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2018.

Further reading
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