By Samantha Conner

A TASTE OF MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA

History of Mexican Food• When the Spanish invaded Mexico,

many new tastes were born• The Spanish introduced the

Mexicans to sheep, cows, pigs, dairy products, garlic and other spices

• The Mexicans introduced the Spanish to peanuts, chocolate, vanilla, beans, avocados, coconuts, corn, squash, and tomatoes

• Over time, Mexican food was shaped by France and the Southwestern United States as well

History of Latin American Food• Europeans, Asians, and

Africans migrated to South America

• Each country had a different culinary contribution

• Europeans introduced pigs, chickens, citrus trees, wheat, almonds, cows and goats

• Asians introduced many spices

• African slaves modified recipes to make them better.

• Latin American Food was born

Euro American TastesBecause of the history of Latin American Food, the United States is able to use ingredients such as • Corn • Maize • Peppers • Coconut• Mango• Queso

Popular Mexican Foods• Carne Asada: Broiled meat, usually skirt or flank steak cooked fast over hot coals.

• Carnitas: Pork simmered in fruit juices and used in tacos and burritos.

• Chimichangas: Deep-fried, meat-filled burrito.

Popular Mexican Foods• Flauta: Long corn or flour tortilla filled

with beef or chicken and deep fried.

• Escabeche: Mixture of oil, vinegar, herbs and seasonings used to pickle jalapeños and other Mexican foods.

• Guacamole: Dip served with tortilla chips of mashed avocado with onions, chiles, tomatoes, lime juice and spices.

Popular Mexican Foods• Salsa: Sauce

• Taquito: Little taco made of corn tortilla filled with meat, rolled up and fried. A small version of the flauta.

• Taco: Usually a fried corn tortilla, folded in half and filled with meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and salsa.

Popular Latin American Foods• Ceviche: Marinated raw fish or seafood

• Empanadas: pastry turnover filled with a variety of savory ingredients and baked or fried.

• Causa Rellena con Pollo: Yellow Potatoes with Chicken Salad

Modern American Cuisine• Mexican Food became popular in The United States in the 1950’s when there was a large number of Mexican immigrants.• Today, there is a large variety of Mexican food restaurants spread throughout the U.S.

Works Cited• Blazes, Marian. "An Introduction to South American Food." About.com South American Food. N.p., 2013. Web. 07 May 2013.• "Food Timeline--Mexican and TexMex Food History." Food Timeline--Mexican and TexMex Food History. N.p., 2000. Web. 07 May 2013.• Jesus, Fabio. ""Latin American Food And Its History"" Ezinearticles.com. N.p., 30 July 2010. Web. 7 May 2013.• "Mexican Food Glossary." Mexican Food Glossary. N.p., 2013. Web. 07 May 2013.• "Mexican Food History: A Melding of Cultures." Mexican Food History: A Melding of Cultures. N.p., 2013. Web. 07 May 2013.