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Health & Fitness

The Flavors of South America

La Marqueta in Stamford and Port Chester is a great store for South American ingredients.

… are closer than you think..

South American cuisine has very distinct flavors and ingredients to define its uniqueness.  A large spectrum of countries collectively call themselves “South America”, similar in their culture and foods yet distinctly different.  Discoverers and purveyors of ancient  ingredients like Quinoa and Yuca (which have recently become the latest rage in North America), South America has a lot to offer the international culinary scene.

With bold and exciting flavors in dishes like Empanadas, Tamales, Ceviche, Arepas, Lomo Saltado and more – it is only natural that we gravitate towards this culture and its foods.

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With just a handful of quality South American restaurants in Fairfield County, I often feel tempted to try making some of the dishes at home.  Usually I get stuck at a unique ingredient that the recipes calls for.  Hmm… where does one find specialty chiles like chile arbol, or chile pasilla?  Usually, I find myself substituting with chiles like jalapeno or habanero — and am left wondering how far off I was from the intended flavor of the dish.

Happily, the answer lies in La Marqueta, a South American market in Port Chester and Stamford.  A wonderful grocery store with practically every south American ingredient you can dream and wish for.

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