Food Of Central America and Mexico (All pictures are from google images)

Glossary Tortilla- thin cornmeal pancake Masa dough- dough made from corn Hominy- dried corn kernels Tripe- made from an animal’s stomach Plantains- a type of banana Siesta- long nap/rest Corn tortilla hominy plantains

Tortilla- thin cornmeal pancake

Masa dough- dough made from corn

Hominy- dried corn kernels

Tripe- made from an animal’s stomach

Plantains- a type of banana

Siesta- long nap/rest

Mexico - Diet tortas (hollow rolls stuffed with meat, cheese, or beans) tamales (masa dough, made of corn, wrapped in a corn husk) quesadillas (tortillas baked with fried cheese) tacos (folded tortilla with meat and vegetables inside) salsa (a dipping sauce made of green or red chiles and green or red tomatoes, and salt, water, and cilantro) mole (a chile chocolate sauce that can be poured over chicken) posol (a soup-like dish with hominy and pork, white cabbage, salsa, or lemon) menuda (similar to posole, but with cow stomach instead of hominy and pork) Pictured: tamales

tortas (hollow rolls stuffed with meat, cheese, or beans)

tamales (masa dough, made of corn, wrapped in a corn husk)

quesadillas (tortillas baked with fried cheese)

tacos (folded tortilla with meat and vegetables inside)

salsa (a dipping sauce made of green or red chiles and green or red tomatoes, and salt, water, and cilantro)

mole (a chile chocolate sauce that can be poured over chicken)

posol (a soup-like dish with hominy and pork, white cabbage, salsa, or lemon)

menuda (similar to posole, but with cow stomach instead of hominy and pork)

Mexico - Etiquette and Facts Most meals are eaten as a family. Food bought at a street vendor is eaten at the stand; it is considered rude to walk down the street while eating

Most meals are eaten as a family.

Food bought at a street vendor is eaten at the stand; it is considered rude to walk down the street while eating

Guatemala - Diet Tamalitos (similar to Mexico’s tamales) Fried pl atanos (bananas) are eaten with honey, cream, or black beans. Meat is usually stewed Sauces are an important part of the meal Coffee is served with lots of cream and sugar. Pictured: fried platanos

Tamalitos (similar to Mexico’s tamales)

Fried pl atanos (bananas) are eaten with honey, cream, or black beans.

Meat is usually stewed

Sauces are an important part of the meal

Coffee is served with lots of cream and sugar.

Guatemala - Etiquette and Facts Most people eat three meals a day, but poorer families may only eat one, and snack on tortillas the rest of the day. Dinner is usually light, and eaten after 7 p.m. The entire extended family gathers for the main meal (midday) on weekends. Sometimes, women serve the meal and eat later. Many people eat sweetbread and coffee at 4 p.m.; schoolchildren are served hot cereal at 10 a.m. After the meal, everyone says muchas gracias (many thanks), to which all reply buen provencho (good appetite). One must always finish the food on their plate, but wait to be offered more (not ask for it themselves).

Most people eat three meals a day, but poorer families may only eat one, and snack on tortillas the rest of the day. Dinner is usually light, and eaten after 7 p.m.

The entire extended family gathers for the main meal (midday) on weekends. Sometimes, women serve the meal and eat later.

Many people eat sweetbread and coffee at 4 p.m.; schoolchildren are served hot cereal at 10 a.m.

After the meal, everyone says muchas gracias (many thanks), to which all reply buen provencho (good appetite).

One must always finish the food on their plate, but wait to be offered more (not ask for it themselves).

El Salvador - Diet Food has much less spice than other Central American countries Most people eat frijoles (red beans), cooked in different ways thicker corn tortillas pupusas (tortillas stuffed with meat, beans, and cheese). Meat is mostly eaten by the wealthy, while poorer families eat their own livestock, and only every once in a while Pictured: pupusas

Food has much less spice than other Central American countries

Most people eat frijoles (red beans), cooked in different ways

thicker corn tortillas

pupusas (tortillas stuffed with meat, beans, and cheese).

Meat is mostly eaten by the wealthy, while poorer families eat their own livestock, and only every once in a while

El Salvador - Etiquette and Facts Guests compliment the host’s food The host will continue to offer more food until the guest declines; in a poorer family’s home, a guest is not expected to accept more food In rural families, the wife eats alone, after the guests Men stand when a woman leaves the table.

Guests compliment the host’s food

The host will continue to offer more food until the guest declines; in a poorer family’s home, a guest is not expected to accept more food

In rural families, the wife eats alone, after the guests

Men stand when a woman leaves the table.

Honduras - Diet tapado (beef stew with vegetables and coconut milk) mondongo (tripe and beef knuckles) nacatamales (pork tamales) torrejas (similar to French toast) served at Christmas) Topogios or charamuscas (frozen fruit juice in plastic bags) are very popular in the summer months. Coffee is served with the main meal of the day. Soft drinks are popular, and North American fast food restaurants are prevalent in big cities. Pictured: topado

tapado (beef stew with vegetables and coconut milk)

mondongo (tripe and beef knuckles)

nacatamales (pork tamales)

torrejas (similar to French toast) served at Christmas)

Topogios or charamuscas (frozen fruit juice in plastic bags) are very popular in the summer months.

Coffee is served with the main meal of the day.

Soft drinks are popular, and North American fast food restaurants are prevalent in big cities.

Honduras - Etiquette and Facts Fork is held in right hand, knife in left. Coffee breaks are taken in the late morning and mid-afternoon.

Fork is held in right hand, knife in left.

Coffee breaks are taken in the late morning and mid-afternoon.

Nicaragua - Diet oil is used frequently in cooking gallo pinto (fried rice and beans) is eaten for breakfast and dinner in many families. enchiladas (tortilla dipped in oil is filled and topped with cheese, sauce, etc.) nacatamales (tamales in a banana leaf) mondongo vigoron (vegetables with pork skin) baho (meat, vegetables, and plantains) fried platanos Pictured: enchiladas

oil is used frequently in cooking

gallo pinto (fried rice and beans) is eaten for breakfast and dinner in many families.

enchiladas (tortilla dipped in oil is filled and topped with cheese, sauce, etc.)

nacatamales (tamales in a banana leaf)

mondongo

vigoron (vegetables with pork skin)

baho (meat, vegetables, and plantains)

fried platanos

Nicaragua - Etiquette and Facts The midday meal is followed by a siesta . Breakfast is eaten very early to allow the workday to start earlier Rural families eat together most of the time, but urban families are usually only able to do this on holidays and weekends

The midday meal is followed by a siesta .

Breakfast is eaten very early to allow the workday to start earlier

Rural families eat together most of the time, but urban families are usually only able to do this on holidays and weekends

Costa Rica - Diet gallo pinto are eaten at virtually every meal casado (beans, salad or eggs, meat, and plantains) is a common lunch olla de carne (beef stew) Tamales, made with meat, vegetables and cornmeal, wrapped in a plantain leaf, and stewed (served at Easter and Christmas) lengua en salsa (beef tongue in sauce) Mondongo empanadas (turnovers) arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) gallos (tortillas with meat and vegetable filling). Coffee is very popular; adults often take 2-3 coffee breaks per day. Pictured: arroz con pollo

gallo pinto are eaten at virtually every meal

casado (beans, salad or eggs, meat, and plantains) is a common lunch

olla de carne (beef stew)

Tamales, made with meat, vegetables and cornmeal, wrapped in a plantain leaf, and stewed (served at Easter and Christmas)

lengua en salsa (beef tongue in sauce)

Mondongo

empanadas (turnovers)

arroz con pollo (rice with chicken)

gallos (tortillas with meat and vegetable filling).

Coffee is very popular; adults often take 2-3 coffee breaks per day.

Costa Rica - Etiquette and Facts Mealtime is to be enjoyed, and is extended by conversation

Mealtime is to be enjoyed, and is extended by conversation

Panama - Diet It is said in Panama that “if one hasn't had rice, then they haven't really eaten a meal”, as rice is served with nearly every meal Fish is common, sometimes in soups For a snack, people will eat a piece of fruit Coffee is served throughout the day C hicha is another popular drink, made from water, sugar, and fresh fruit. sancocho (chicken soup) guacho (rice soup) bollo (corn mush boiled in the husk) carne guisado (stewed beef with tomatoes and spices) arroz con pollo (but only on special occasions) In urban areas, there is a fusion of traditional dishes and international foods.

It is said in Panama that “if one hasn't had rice, then they haven't really eaten a meal”, as rice is served with nearly every meal

Fish is common, sometimes in soups

For a snack, people will eat a piece of fruit

Coffee is served throughout the day

C hicha is another popular drink, made from water, sugar, and fresh fruit. sancocho (chicken soup)

guacho (rice soup)

bollo (corn mush boiled in the husk)

carne guisado (stewed beef with tomatoes and spices)

arroz con pollo (but only on special occasions)

In urban areas, there is a fusion of traditional dishes and international foods.

Panama - Etiquette and Facts Food is served in the following order: guests, men, children, women/cook.

Food is served in the following order: guests, men, children, women/cook.