The Latinos bring passion and panache to every aspect of their life and food is no exception. We all know and love their fiery and delicious cuisine – Mexico’s tacos, Brazil’s barbecues and Argentina’s steak – but some of their culinary inventions are more imaginative than others. So peculiar, in fact, that many of these unusual delicacies will never leave Latin America at all.
Here are some of the craziest combinations to turn even the most adventurous eaters tentative:
Sovete de Goiabada com Queijo
Guava and cheese ice cream. Not a flavour combination you’ll find at Walls or Haagen Dasz but surprisingly delicious. Try it at Mil Frutas in Rio de Janeiro.
Chocolate Con Queso
Hot chocolate with cheese. It’s like a Colombian walked into a fondue restaurant, misunderstood the concept, and ended up with molten chocolate and oozing cheese in the same pot. What a beautiful mistake.
Blue Tortillas
Anything this blue looks like it belongs in a Dr Seuss book to me but it’s actually commonplace in Mexico and perfectly natural. There’s no Photoshop or food dye involved – the bright blue colour is all down to the blue variety of corn from which it’s made.
VEGETARIANS STOP SCROLLLING NOW!
Sopa de Mondongo
Tripe stew. I wasn’t bowled over by this one and sourcing a photo that didn’t set my stomach churning wasn’t easy. Nonetheless this hearty stew is eaten throughout Latin America and a source of Argentinian national pride.
Cuy
Guinea Pig. It’s horse in France, dog in China…and guinea pig in Peru. Like chicken but far less meaty. Don’t fancy eating your childhood pet? No worries, there are far tastier things on the menu in Peru.
Hormigas Culonas
Big-booty ants. A fried snack; kind of like the peanuts or crisps of Colombia. You’ll feel less guilty eating them than guinea pig and my staunchly (or so she says) vegetarian friend even gave into curiosity and popped one in.
Huevos de Tortugas
Turtle Eggs. This is the only one of the list I haven’t – and won’t ever – try. It’s an illegal delicacy that Nicaragua is working to eradicate. They’re eaten nearly raw with a squeeze of lime or spicy sauce.
Antigua in Guatemala is my street food heaven, where has your culinary curiosity taken you?
