Here are some easy North American recipes you can use to teach your kids geography and give some inspiration for cooking while you are home. Find out more about this series, or jump right in with part 3 of ‘Suppers from Around the World’ brings you easy North American recipes that your family will love. Each day we will have a new continent of family dinner recipes until all 7 continents are done.
NORTH AMERICA
Almost entirely within the Northern Hemisphere, North America includes 23 countries plus territories. The better know countries include the United States of America, Canada, Mexico and all the Caribbean and Central America countries. But did you know it also includes the world’s largest island, Greenland? Although it is the third largest continent, it is the fourth largest in population after Europe.
North American recipes have been greatly influenced by European and Asian cuisine, likely due to the history how the country was settled by European colonists, indigenous peoples, African slaves and their descendants.
Hamburger (United States)
The hamburger is as American as apple pie. It’s also my favorite food to eat. One reason for it’s popularity is that it is so versatile. Mostly each hamburgers recipe starts with basic ingredients of ground beef and a bun. You can mix it up with different types of buns and meats plus a whole slew of toppings, of which cheese is the most popular. With a never-ending list of toppings, the possibilities are endless. Remember to add more flavor, you must flavor your meat and cooking the patty on a BBQ is always recommended. If you want a great recipe from Honest & Truly: Chipotle Burgers with Jalapeno Mayo.
Poutine (Canada)
What goes great with burgers? Poutine. Let’s be honest poutine goes great on its own too. Poutine is a made with fries covered in cheese curds smothered in gravy! The national dish of the province of Quebec, many say it’s also the national dish of Canada. Today there are too many varieties to count. You can have your poutine with topped with sausage, smoked meat, onions, bacon, salsa or a Newfoundland favorite: turkey stuffing!
Sofrito (Puerto Rico)
Sofrito is the base for most Puerto Rican dishes. Really, it’s the base for most Latin American Spanish, Italian and Portuguese cooking. It’s great to make head and simple to create. Sofrito recipe calls for you to take garlic, onion, pepper and tomatoes and cook in olive oil. Sofrito can be added to beans, rice, soups, stews or really any dish. It’s also great to freeze and have whenever you need. Here’s a
Pretzel Bites
Craving soft pretzels? Honest & Truly’s homemade pizza bites recipe are what you want to try. If you don’t include the 1 hour rising time (when you can go do other things) they only take around 25 minutes to make! You can add them for any dip you like. I would keep them with plain spicy cheese dip. Michelle even uses these mini bites to make mini sliders.
Tacos (Mexico)
Tacos are a huge hit in our house. It’s probably because I love anything with cilantro and lime. It’s also a really easy to make. My kids would never eat fish when they were younger, until we had fish tacos. And for my vegetarian daughter, it’s always easy to make her tofu or even just plain with toppings. There is an endless variety of taco recipes, but I suggest you try these Mexican Street Tacos.
Burrito (Mexico)
If talking about tacos, we have to also mention burritos. Burritos are usually made with flour tortillas that wrap up different ingredients: either some form of meat or fish, potato, rice, beans (refried), carne asada, asadero cheese, salsa, guacamole, chile rajas, or chile relleno. Like hamburgers in Australia and the States, burritos may have different ingredients depending on the region of Mexico Here’s an ‘authentic’ burrito recipe to try. Like many Mexican dishes it is served with rice and beans.
Jerk Chicken (Jamaica)
Jamaican Jerk Chicken can be found on almost any beach in Jamaica. There are many varieties and is best served with pineapple avocado salsa. The ‘jerk’ in this recipe refers to the spicy rub (wet or dry) you put on the chicken or meat. It’s best to make the seasoning in advance and make sure you marinate for at least four hours or overnight. Epicurious has a great Jamaican Jerk Chicken recipe.
Suaasat (Greenland)
Suaasat is a traditional Greenland soup. The soup consists of onion and potatoes and simple seasonings like pepper and bay leaves. To make it more of a soup and less of a broth, the soup is often thickened with rice or soaking barley in the water overnight so the starch soaks into the water.
Traditional Suaasat recipe calls for seal meat or reindeer. If yoru local grocer is all out of those try this Suaasat recipe which calls for ‘reindeer’ and you can use local ‘deer’, lamb, beef or other wild game.
Cedar Plank Salmon (Canada, Hawaii, northwest North America)
My husband comes form the salmon capital of the world (Campbell River, British Columbia), so he grew up eating salmon, as did many who live in northwest North America. There are many ways to prepare salmon, but Cedar Plank Salmon with Pineapple Salsa rocks. The charred taste of the bbq with the sweetness of pineapple is a favorite.
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Pollo Guisado (Dominican Republic)
Who Noms the World is a great site where their recipes are broken down by continent! I fell in love with their Pollo Gusado or Braised Chicken Stew. Don’t be fooled by the pictures, this is not a spicy dish. Only full of flavor. This braised chicken stew full of vegetables and is great served on rice with black beans.
Check out the other continents:
Do you have any North American recipes you’d like to share?
