Water Cooler: Latin American food bloggers

Latin American cuisine is just about as American as apple pie by this point – ever heard of Taco Bell? It’s obviously not authentic by any means, but its widespread presence of more than 5,000 locations across the United States goes to show that the taco, along with other Latin American staples, has had a profound influence on what foods are popularly eaten in the United States.

With Hispanic Heritage Month in full swing, it is a great time to celebrate and enjoy the cuisines of the Latinx community – but that will require branching out from Taco Bell and looking for some traditional bites.

Food is an almost magical way to trace back and preserve heritage. It is a vivid sensory experience that delivers history, tradition, geographical influence and cultural values directly to the taste buds. For example, when eating a taco you are enjoying a food that predates the arrival of the Spanish to Mexico. Spanish conquistador Bernal Díaz del Castillo documented the first taco feast enjoyed by Europeans which was a staple food of the Indigenous people living in the Valley of Mexico, traditionally filled with small fish. To think of how much history lies between that Indigenous cuisine and today’s commercialized taco is astounding.

Of course, there is much more to Latinx history and cuisine than the taco. (Latinx is the gender-neutral term for Latina and Latino.) The best way to celebrate the heritage and delicious variety of that cuisine is to learn more about its history, process and importance directly from the Latinx community. Thanks to Latinx YouTubers, that information is just a click away. Just make sure you aren’t too hungry before diving in or your stomach will be growling in no time.

De mi Rancho a Tu Cocina – There is nobody that can teach you more about traditional food than a grandmother. Follow Mexican abuelita Doña Angela as she shares her lifelong mastery and knowledge of Mexican cuisine. All of her videos are in Spanish, but luckily delicious food has the ability to transcend language – although some of her recent videos have English subtitles as well if you want the details on the process. Watch her make mouthwatering enchiladas with fresh salsa, grilled quesadillas, stuffed peppers and authentic carnitas. With more than 3 million subscribers, there is no doubt about it that the food is good.

The Freakin Rican Restaurant – This channel aims to share authentic Puerto Rican cooking to unite the world in conversations about food and honor all the special memories of moms and grandmas that passed along traditional recipes. Learn to make Asopao de Pollo, a chicken and rice soup, Alcapurrias de yuca, which are stuffed fritters, and all other spurts of traditional meals and street food favorites.

Sweet y Salado – Colombian food blogger and YouTuber Diana offers a wealth of recipe tutorials in Spanish and English. Her soup recipes playlist includes Colombian mondongo (beef tripe stew), Ajiaco (chicken and potato soup), and a traditional lentil soup. She also has entire other playlists dedicated to varieties of tamales, empanadas, salsa, side dishes and other Colombian staples.

Dora’s Table – Vegan Mexican Recipes – Dora was born and raised in Mexico and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York, where she later adopted a vegan diet to take care of her personal health. With this channel she aspires to preserve the rich beauty of regional Mexican cuisines while customizing them for a plant-based lifestyle.

La Cooquette – Enter the world of Central American, especially Honduran, cuisine with the possibly the most energetic food blogger on YouTube. Learn how to make pollo chuco, a friend chicken dish served on a bed of plantains, as well as many other Honduran staples and recipes from other cuisines. All of her videos are in Spanish, but many have English subtitles. She also provides a second English channel called La Cooquette Food.

La Capital – Prepare yourself for some comfort food with this channel, which offers a slew of videos featuring delicious and rich home cooking. Watch a whole playlist dedicated to chilaquiles, a traditional Mexican breakfast dish. Drool over mango habanero wings. Work up your appetite for classic carne asada and much more.