Healthy Hispanic Recipes

Featured Recipes

Latin American Empanadas (Pipian Empanadas)

These savory pastries were created by Mariana Velasquez, a Test Kitchen intern who grew up in Bogot, Colombia.

» Latin American Empanadas (Pipian Empanadas)

Catalan Sauteed Polenta & Butter Beans

This dish is a satisfying vegetarian meal complete with spinach, beans and polenta, inspired by classic Spanish flavors. Note: Look for smoked paprika with other specialty spices; it's available in three varieties: sweet, bittersweet and hot. Sweet is the most versatile, but if you like a little bit of heat, choose the hot variety. You can find Spanish products in specialty-foods stores or online at tienda.com. Make it a Meal: Enjoy with a green salad tossed with sherry vinaigrette and a glass of Jean-Luc Colombo CÃ´tes du RhÃ´ne.

» Catalan Sauteed Polenta & Butter Beans

Cuban-Style Pork & Rice

Full of spice and exotic flavors, this Cuban take on the classic Spanish paella is an easy way to feed a hungry crowd. Don't worry if you have leftovers. They can easily be rewarmed in a microwave or combined with eggs to make a Spanish tortilla (omelet); or for a great cold dish, toss the leftover rice with cooked vegetables and a vinaigrette made with lime juice instead of vinegar.

» Cuban-Style Pork & Rice

Puerto Rican Fish Stew (Bacalao)

Bacalao, salted dried codfish, is the defining ingredient in traditional Puerto Rican fish stew, but salt cod requires overnight soaking and several rinses in cool water before it can be used, so we opt for fresh fish in this quick version. Serve with crusty rolls to soak up the juices.

» Puerto Rican Fish Stew (Bacalao)

Caramel Cream Cheese Custard (Flan de Queso)

Every panaderia (bakery) in Puerto Rico has many flavors of flan, from vanilla to guava. Reduced-fat cream cheese gives this version a rich, comforting texture.

» Caramel Cream Cheese Custard (Flan de Queso)

Squash, Black Bean & Goat Cheese Tamales

Tamales are a sign of celebration at holiday gatherings in Mexican households on both sides of the border, especially for occasions like Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve dinner. Here we stuff them with creamy winter squash, black beans and tangy goat cheese.

» Squash, Black Bean & Goat Cheese Tamales

Skillet-Roasted Strip Steaks with Pebre Sauce & Avocado

This recipe was inspired by the popular Chilean sandwich, called a churrasco, that features a thin sandwich steak, mashed avocado and a type of salsa called Pebre. We have substituted tender strip steak for sandwich steaks to make a satisfying steak dinner. If you have leftovers, layer the components in a mayonnaise-coated crusty roll and enjoy a churrasco sandwich the following day. Searing a steak on the stovetop and then finishing it in a moderate oven allows for good browning, and the gentle heat helps ensure a tender result.

» Skillet-Roasted Strip Steaks with Pebre Sauce & Avocado

Delicious Hispanic recipes, cooked with flair.

Old World expertise mixes with New World ingredients and techniques in Hispanic cooking. The result: delicious foods, cooked with flair.

Hispanic cuisine encompasses the culinary traditions of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, South and Central America and other Spanish cultures and origins, although each region bears its own distinct flavors and noble roots. But what they all share is a sense of culinary adventure and emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients that can be easily incorporated into a healthy diet.