“I’m proud of being Hispanic.” – Lisa Guerrero
Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated for many years from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. During this month, we celebrate all Hispanics by embracing, learning and recognizing their culture, history and accomplishments. One big part of Hispanic Culture is the food. Hispanic dishes are very popular in the United States. For example, we all know and love tacos, burritos and margaritas, but there are a lot more dishes that are just as tasty! As we dive into this text, we are going to learn about very popular dishes that you might want to try next time you indulge in new foods.
Here are my top six picks of Hispanic dishes you must try!
1. Menudo
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Menudo originated from Mexico and developed into a very well-known Mexican dish. This soup contains tripe, also known as cow stomach! Other ingredients in menudo include guajillo peppers, onions, garlic and oregano. I know the cow stomach might sound unappetizing but trust me it is worth trying!
One fun fact about menudo is that it is known to cure hangovers, so next time you and some friends have had a long night drinking margaritas, maybe try some menudo!
2. Tamales
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I LOVE TAMALES! Wrapped in a corn husk, tamales consist of masa, also known as corn dough, and a filling of choice! Different fillers include meat, cheese or even beans! I enjoy eating a classic pork tamale with Valentina hot sauce on top. You can never go wrong with a yummy tamale!
Another fun fact is that national tamale day is on March 23, so mark your calendars because this day gives you the perfect reason to go out and try some.
3. Barbacoa
Photo by Ellis Calvin distributed under a CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED license
We all have heard of barbacoa from Chipotle, which is just beef, but barbacoa from Mexico can be anything from beef, goat, lamb or mutton! Barbacoa can be included in anything like tacos, burritos or even by themselves. This dish is made in a slow cooker until it can separate from the bone. It is paired with consomé, a broth, and has a lot of spices!
One fun fact about barbacoa is that it takes six to eight hours to cook this dish!
4. Elote
Photo by Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger on Unsplash
Elote is one of my favorites of all time! This dish consists of grilled corn on the cob with mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, lime and cilantro on top. Elote is also extremely popular on TikTok. Many people like to add their own spin to elote by adding Hot Cheetos and cheddar cheese on top. Personally, I have never tried it that way, but I am interested!
Here is another fun fact! Elote is also known as street corn, because it is widely known to be served on a street cart and on a stick!
5. Sopapillas
Photo by Sarah Stierch distributed under a CC BY 2.0 DEED license
Found in North, Latin and South America, sopapillas are a yummy dish that is mostly eaten as a dessert. Sopapillas are a fried pastry that can include honey, cinnamon, or powdered sugar on top! My dad’s grandma would make them for him and me every time we would go to Texas! She included honey on top and they were so delicious. I would devour a whole plate of them in seconds.
More fun facts! Sopapillas can be found in Mexican restaurants around the United States… but in my opinion, they are not as delicious as freshly homemade ones!
6. Mexican bunuelos
Photo by bionicgrrrl distributed under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED license
Mexican bunuelos are like sopapillas. The only difference is that they are deep fried to be flat and crispy, unlike sopapillas. They are also topped with honey, cinnamon or sugar powder, but they are served cold. Last week my friend and I went to a Mexican restaurant for her birthday, and they served her bunuelos to celebrate!
Final fun fact is that Mexican bunuelos are mostly made for Christmas and the New Years, so when it is time to celebrate those holidays, you should indulge in this dessert.
“The Latina in me is an ember that blazes forever.” – Sonia Sotomayor
Hispanic Heritage Month may be over by the time this article is posted, but it is never too late to celebrate and learn about Hispanic culture! Maybe next time you go out to try new foods, you try a tasty new Hispanic dish and learn something new! :)