Latin American cuisine refers to typical foods, beverages, and cooking styles common to many of the countries and cultures in
Latin America. Latin America is a highly diverse area of land that holds various cuisines that vary from nation to nation. Some items typical of Latin American cuisine include
maize-based dishes (
tortillas,
tamales,
tacos,
pupusas,
arepas) and various
salsas and other condiments (
guacamole,
pico de gallo,
mole,
chimichurri,
chili,
aji,
pebre). These spices are generally what give the Latin American cuisines a distinct flavor; yet, each country of Latin America tends to use a different spice and those that share spices tend to use them at different quantities. Thus, this leads for a variety across the land.
Sofrito, a culinary term that originally referred to a specific combination of sauteed or braised aromatics, exists in Latin American cuisine. It refers to a sauce of tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, garlic, onions and herbs.