Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 and celebrates the many contributions and cultures of the American Latino community. Beginning in 1968, under President Lyndon Johnson, the celebration started as a week-long event and was extended to a month in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.
Festivals, art shows and community celebrations mark this month every year, and of course amazing food from each culture is found on tables around the country, celebrating the diversity of flavors from each unique country.
All Hispanic countries join in the month long celebration and include: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
A Fiesta of Food
With so many countries partaking in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the festivities and food varies based on the revellers. Below we give you a brief virtual taste of the most popular dishes from a few of the countries that will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.
El Salvador
Pupusa is the national dish of El Salvador and it is easy to see why this thick, stuffed, skillet-cooked corn tortilla, traditionally served with a side of tomato salsa and coleslaw, ranks number one among young and old alike.
Paraguay
If you happen to have the chance to travel to Paraguay and are looking for an authentic dish to try, you must sample kivevé. This traditional dish is created with pumpkin, cornmeal and fresh cheese. The texture is similar to polenta and is served as a side or sweetened and served as a dessert.
Uruguay
The national dish of Uruguay is Chivito, an impressive sandwich piled high with slices of churrasco (grilled or roasted, thinly sliced beef), ham, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and melted mozzarella, all topped with fried eggs…Oooof…what a lunch!
Chivito means “little goat” in Spanish and legend has it that in the 1940s, a chef was asked to prepare roasted goat, but since he didn’t have a goat – he made a sandwich with bits of just about everything he had in the kitchen, and thus, chivito was born.
Celebrate Unique Flavors at Ori’Zaba’s
We’ve created a few special dishes of our own to help you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. These mouthwatering creations are here for a limited time; let us know which one is your favorite!
Argentina
Provoleta is made with a provolone type cheese that is traditionally cooked over hot coals until golden and bubbling, then served as a mouthwatering appetizer.
We have taken Provoleta one step further; we drizzle chimichurri sauce made from parsley, oregano, garlic, oil and red wine vinegar, over the top of the golden cheese.
This appetizer will transport you to colorful Argentina and goes well as a starter with any of our meals. Or, eat it alone as a decadent treat!
Cuba
Boniato con Mojo is created with a base of sweet potatoes and drizzled with a tantalizing Mojo. Ori’Zaba’s Mojo is made with:
- Fresh garlic
- Parsley
- Tangy lime juice
- Housemade arbol chili powder
- Cumin
- Orange Juice and Agave
We drizzle this Mojo over our deep fried sweet potatoes and serve this dish as a side which pairs well with any main dish. You will fall in love with the sweet and spicy flavor of this traditional Cuban dish after just one bite!
Chile
Tastebuds be warned, our Pebre Salsa Picante packs a kick, we advise extreme caution when diving into this creation that hails from Chile. We have blended four peppers:
- Serrano
- Habanero
- Carolina Reapers
- Arbol
And then added tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, garlic, red wine vinegar and chili paste to create a salsa so spicy, we advise to “Eat at Your Own Risk!”
If you love spicy, you will enjoy this salsa on burritos, bowls and even with a side of chips. Having a tall glass of ice cold Agua Fresca close at hand, may be a good idea!
Create your own fiesta in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month; make sure to include authentic food, traditional music, maybe a little bit of dancing and lots of laughter!