I grew up cooking and baking all the time (my mom used to be a pastry chef; she definitely passed on her love for making food). So whenever I want a certain food, my first instinct isn’t always to go find a restaurant—it’s to make it myself, even if it’s a food from a different culture. This tendency has allowed me to make lots of different foods, whether they’re full meals, snacks, drinks, or desserts. I love being able to try new things and feel that sense of accomplishment when I make it myself instead of buying it. Of course, I can’t hope to match the food’s authentic taste, but making it myself lets me feel more connected to our huge world and all the different people that live in it. Here are some of my favorite cultural foods that I enjoy making.
- Horchata. This is a popular Mexican rice drink. It’s made by blending rice, cinnamon, and water together and letting that sit for a few hours (the longer the better—even overnight), and then discarding the rice and adding sugar and milk.
- Fried plantains. This delicious Caribbean dish is as simple as it sounds—peel some ripe plantains and fry them in vegetable oil. They are so sweet!
- Picadillo. My grandfather is Cuban, so we have a lot of Cuban dishes when we’re together. Picadillo is typically made with ground beef (though you can use whatever meat or meat substitute you prefer), onions, garlic, and green olives. It goes great with those fried plantains!
- Magdalenas. Magdalenas are basically Spanish madeleines, with a lemony twist. They’re light, fluffy, sweet, and scrumptious!
- Vietnamese spring rolls. Springs rolls are such a refreshing meal on a hot day, and they’re pretty easy to make too (just time consuming). You can put whatever you like in them. My mother and I love making our own spring rolls, and I even make my own peanut sauce to go with them!
- Senegalese peanut stew. You wouldn’t think that peanut butter would go well with carrots and sweet potatoes in a stew, but it’s actually amazing! It gives the stew a creamy texture and boost of flavor. Try adding some farro to make the stew even more filling!