Cuisine of El Salvador

Traditional Salvadoran cuisine combines the foods of Spain and the indigenous population, especially the Maya, Lenca, and Pipil people.

Many of the dishes are made with maize (corn).

Typical Breakfast

For breakfast, Salvadorans usually eat "platos típicos" (national dishes), which commonly include mashed beans, sour cream, eggs, Salvadoran tortillas, cheese, fried plantains, rice and coffee. "Huevos picados" are scrambled eggs mixed with vegetables. They combine french bread or tortillas with their desired food plate. Another popular dish is rice and beans and its called Casamiento and is very popular in breakfast and dinner.

oups and Salad

Soups are popular among Salvadorans of every social level. "Sopa de pata" is a soup made from "patas de res" (cow's feet), plantain, corn and tripe, locally a delicacy. "Gallo en chicha" is a soup made with rooster, corns, and dulce de tapa and sometimes other things.

While salads are uncommon in traditional Salvadoran cuisine, primarily because polluted water, which is a general problem, they have become more and more part of the usual diet of the Salvadoran people. "Ensalada Fresca" (Fresh Salad) which usually includes a mix of fresh tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce is a common staple on most lunches. Additionally, most restaurants include them on their menu, with traditional salads like Potato Salad and Cesar Salad being very common. "Ensalada" (salad) can also refer to a mixed fruits beverage (see Beverages section).

Salvadoran dessert usually consists of Pan Dulce, Zemita, Salvadoran style Quesadilla, Torta de Yema, Marquezote, Salpores, Poleada (vanilla custard), Arroz en Leche (rice pudding), Atol de Elote, Atol de Piña etc. etc. The dulce de leche of El Salvador has a soft, crumbly texture, with an almost crystallized form. Fruits are widely consumed, the more popular being mangoes, papayas and bananas. Empanadas de Platano (Plantain Patties) are also popular desserts.

Beverages

Teenagers usually drink "gaseosas" or "sodas" (soft drinks) like Coca-cola, while young and old alike drink coffee, El Salvador's top export. A very popular soda that originated in El Salvador is Kolachampan, which is a soda with sugar cane flavor. "Minutas", slushy frozen drinks flavored with natural flavored syrup, and "horchata", mix of spices such as cinnamon, peanuts, ajonjolí (sesame seed) and morro, are popular throughout the country and enjoyed on a hot day. "Licuados" are like the minutas with added fresh fruit and (sometimes) milk. "Refrescos" refer to lemonade or other sweetened fruit drinks. Other drinks include Arrayán, Shuco and Chilate. Another popular beverage is Ensalada ("salad"), made of pineapple juice with finely chopped fruits, usually apples, marañón, mamey, and watercress. Tamarind juice is consumed in all of El Salvador. Coconuts are sold at roadside estansa throughout the country. Typically, they are chopped with machetes and a straw is inserted so that the coconut milk can be consumed. Adults drink coconut milk, mixed with vodka, as an aperitif.

Alcoholic Beverages

The most common alcoholic beverage is beer ("cerveza"); in El Salvador the most popular brand name is Pilsener.

ee also

*Pupusas
*Chicha
*Chuco
*Chilate
*Tamales
*Horchata
*Empanada
*Alguashte

External links

* [http://www.elsalvador.org/embajadas/eeuu/home.nsf/29a8e24e84ab372085256af80057bb56/f0ec4193177e01d885256b0a006a9d73?OpenDocument Typical Food] El Salvador.org
* [http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/elsalvador/eating.html Eating the Salvadoran way]
* [http://www.whats4eats.com/4rec_elsalv.html Ethnic Recipes and International Cooking whats4eats.com]