South American

Giving a nod to tropical fruit, this irresistible treat combines rich ice cream with a nut crust and thick fudge sauce.

Nancy Scott of Cranston, Rhode Island, writes: "I attended a wine tasting festival in Newport a while ago and enjoyed a shrimp ceviche prepared by Andrew Dicataldo, the executive chef of Patria, in New York City. Can you get the recipe?" In this recipe, the shrimp are cooked by quickly boiling them, whereas in a traditional ceviche the seafood, marinated in a spicy mixture of lemon or lemon-lime juice, appears cooked but isn't. Active time: 2 hr Start to finish: 2 hr

Chicharrones are cracklings — the flavorful solids that are left over from making lard; the resemblance these little morsels of chicken bear to them accounts for the name "chicken cracklings." Chicharrones de pollo is a typically South American dish, variations of which can be found all over that continent and up into the Central American peninsula. The chicken is chpped up Chinese-style — bones, skin and all — into small pieces. Then it is usually marinated, rolled in wheat or corn flour, and deep fried — although sometimes it is not marinated, and sometimes it is fried without any breading at all.

The texture of this spicy Brazilian dish falls in between a soup and a stew. Cook it down if you prefer it thicker.

Poblano chilies (fresh green chilies), tomatillos (green tomato-like fruits), dried corn husks, and Masa Harina are found at many supermarkets and Latin American markets.

Postre de Quinoa Linda Bladholm's South American friend Lilian Zamorano gave us the recipe for this unusual but very tasty dessert. It's made with the ancient Peruvian grain quinoa, which is a common side dish at Peruvian restaurants. Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 1 1/4 hr

(Chimichurri Rojo) This vibrant sauce/marinade is a nice variation on the classic Chimichurri Verde. A sort of Argentine Worcestershire, it is slightly more herbaceous. Try marinating some chicken pieces in this sauce (in a nonreactive dish) for a few hours before cooking them. This recipe is a component of Barbecued Steak Brazilian-Style, with Garlicky Marinade and Dipping Sauce .

(Churrasco de Sao Paulo a la Parilla con Chimichurri Rojo) Churrasco is a very primitive form of cooking meat. The gauchos, or cowboys, of Brazil would kill and butcher the animals out on the pampas, build a big fire, and barbecue the meat on a spit of some sort, basting it with a vinegary liquid. As cities developed, however, this recipe too became more civilized — I do ask you to prepare it the way they do in many Brazilian steak houses, with cebollas fritas (otherwise known as onion rings).

This garlicky sauce from Argentina is great spooned over beef or chicken.

Pepperpot is a Guyanese dish of braised meat flavored with casareep (a spiced syrup made from cassava). It reheats well and is ideal for making several days ahead.

Toasting the almonds before soaking gives this creamy horchata an irresistibly roast-y flavor.

These savory-sweet Venezuelan cheesy corn pancakes are endlessly customizable, making them the ultimate kid-friendly recipe or WFH lunch.

Shrimp cocktail meets hangover helper in this spicy, tangy, refreshing take on a Venezuelan seafood cocktail from Ensenada in NYC.

For these baked empanadas, Gaby Melian says the addition of green olives and raisins in the filling is essential. 

This colorful chimichurri recipe doubles as a marinade and works as an accompaniment to all cuts of beef—or anything else you want to gussy up.

These crunchy, cheesy fried rice balls are the perfect snack for any time of day, and they come together in less than half an hour.

Take your time to cook down the flavor base, which is enriched with ají amarillo and beer, and you’ll be rewarded with a thick, homey Peruvian duck stew.