Salvadorian Cuisine

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El Salvador- Cooking and Food

Overview of Salvadorian Cuisine History
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and it is known for its wild relief, full of volcanic mountains and tropical forests. Besides these, El Salvador also possesses a field with agricultural products, especially corn, sugar cane and coffee. Raising cattle is also a common occupation of the El Salvadorian people. These particularities explain some of the traditional dishes, such as the beef stews, sugar cane liquor and the various kinds of corn tortillas. Due to the Latin origins of the people, the Mexican cuisine, with the tamales (a sort of corn dumpling wrapped in banana leaves), tortillas, rice, tomatoes, corn and beans is very much felt in the culinary culture of El Salvador. Like the specific Latin diet, Salvadorian people eat three meals per day and the most important one is lunch, also called almuzero, which includes soup, main course of rice, beans, grilled meat and a traditional dessert.

Cuisines of El Salvador


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createpageform-salvadorian El Salvador is a rather small country, with a balanced cuisine all through the territory. The most significant aspect when discussing the El Salvadorian regional cuisines is the fact that there are some main differences between the urban and the rural areas. In the villages and small towns, there are many groceries and open air markets (with various kinds of beans, rice, fruits and corn) and not so many food shops or supermarkets. People from these regions prefer to eat homemade food and local specialties. In the main cities, such as the capital San Salvador, there is a wide range of supermarkets and restaurants. The restaurants in San Salvador offer selections of both international (French, Italian, American are the most frequent ones) and traditional food, including all the Latin influences. The traditional food in the restaurants includes lomo entomatodo and salpicon (beef with tomatoes), curtido (cabbage salad) and various fish and seafood dishes.

Salvadorian Food Glossary
Finding the ingredients for an Salvadorian Recipe is not so easy when you do not know the names of the ingredients. Take time to make a list of ingredients and the name they may be found under at the Local Markets.


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Preparation Methods for Salvadorian Cooking
El Salvadorian cuisine uses elements from various cooking traditions borrowed from their neighbors and developed from their own traditional dishes. While there are no specific or unique preparation methods for El Salvadorian cooking, we should point out that attention to detail is important in the El Salvadorian cuisine. Using the right amount of spices for example is essential – either for spicing up the taste or for coloring the dish. The diversity of vegetables and cereals found in El Salvador is also noticed in the delicious dishes belonging to their cuisine. The visual attractiveness of the dish is also important, and a balance between colors and proportion differentiates. Each traditional dish has a special cooking method, which is more or less general in all of El Salvador’s regions. Meat is one of the main elements of most El Salvadorian dishes and cured and smoked hams are often parts of delicious dishes.

Special Equipment for Salvadorian Cooking
Ranging from cake pans, can openers, colanders, egg rings, poachers and holders, food dishers & portioners, food pans & food containers to other kitchen utensils, such as food scales, food scoops and fryer baskets & accessories, the El Salvadorian cuisine needs a diverse cooking equipment set in order to produce the most sophisticated El Salvadorian dishes. You should consider insulated food carriers if you are transporting the food and a full set of kitchen linens and uniforms if you wish to look like a pro. Here are a few other items that will come handy while cooking El Salvadorian food: juicers, kitchen knives, kitchen slicers, kitchen thermometers, measuring cups & measuring spoons, miscellaneous utensils, mixing bowls and skimmers & strainers. Essential utensils like serving spoons, spatulas, forks, turners, scrapers and tongs should also be part of your cooking "arsenal".

Salvadorian Food Traditions and Festivals
People in El Salvador enjoy celebrating their culture through various festivals and ceremonies and also, they are very fond of their religion. On 3rd of May, people consider that the rainy season is about to start, so they have a festival that includes both Catholic belief and indigenous fertility rituals, as they decorate their homes with fruits and flowers and pray for a wealthy season. In August, people in El Salvador celebrate El Salvador del Mundo (the Savior of the World) – a carnival takes place and people enjoy large family feasts. The Christmas menu includes the traditional tamales (a sort of corn dumpling wrapped in banana leaves), chicken or an American menu with turkey and ham.

People in Salvadorian Food
There are many chefs who creatively use the basic ingredients and cooking method for traditional El Salvadorian dishes and create original and delicious food variations. El Salvadorian chefs are passionate about their traditional dishes and they enjoy presenting them to foreigners who have never tasted them before. Whether they are cooking dishes that go back in time for centuries or brand new, modern dishes, El Salvadorian chefs take pride in what they do, and this is readily noticeable in the unforgettable taste of their cooking.
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