Most of us have a breakfast routine and we usually stick to it for the rest of our lives. After all, we grew up with the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Traveling through some Latin American countries opened my mind and got me to try different things. Why hold on to a routine?
Immersion in other cultures should be paramount to enjoy first-hand all that the countries have to offer — and breakfast is the place to jump in. Starting the day by tasting the identity and deep-rooted traditions is the best way to truly get to know the people, culture and rituals of a place, after all the hospitality of these countries comes with a satisfied belly and a warm smile.
Start with dessert
Medialunas (similar to a croissant) dipped in syrup are a local delicacy in Argentina and Uruguay.
Although you can eat them salty, southerners are not afraid of a sweet breakfast and will share with you a desire for the best dulce de leche (milk caramel) first thing in the morning.
I would fill my plate with plenty of savory choices, which included a classic sandwich with ham, but I never left out the sweet, because “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
In addition to desserts such as the delicious alfajores (a kind of cookies filled with dulce de leche) you also have traditional options to drink. Mate is a religion for Uruguayans and Argentines, so be sure to try it, but if this drink is not for you, you can always have a coffee with milk.
Opt for a healthy breakfast in South America
If you are following a diet and want to eat healthier, a country to visit is Brazil. The variety of fruits and vegetables you find there are out of this world, for example with the biggest strawberries you’ve ever seen or products unknown almost anywhere else. Although the entirety of Latin America is known for its excellent quality natural products, Brazil’s fruits are unparalleled — you will find the juiciest, freshest and most exquisite fruits there.
If you want to go a step further and not restrict yourself, you have to try the mortadella sandwich, with endless layers of sausage. I tried it at the Sao Paulo municipal market, a place where you can taste the best natural products in the region.
Embrace multiple options
In Venezuela, you don’t have to choose just one thing. Although arepas are typical there, you have multiple options.
For instance, the filling of the arepa offers infinite choices including ham, meat, egg, avocado, cheese, beans and much, much more.
But you also have more breakfast choices like the fried corn flour empanada (also filled with almost endless options), pastelitos, cachitos or the cachapa with cheese, one of the favorites of many.
In addition to the arepa, Venezuelans are also known for the delicious tequeños (a fried dough filled with cheese), now famous in many corners of the world. But if you want to try a traditional breakfast flavor, you should order a tequeñón, a larger option of the tequeño that many Venezuelans remember from school days.
To help you digest all this food, drink natural juices such as passion fruit, guava, pineapple or tangerine. If you want a very traditional flavor, take a malta, a bottled drink like a soda, but made of barley.
Always choose an empanada for breakfast
If you can’t decide between the options in front of you, always go for an empanada. You can’t go wrong. My favorite is the Venezuelan one, a corn flour dough fried and filled. But I also love the Argentinean and Chilean empanadas, which are baked and very consistent.
I have tried almost all the baked empanada fillings and I can’t say I have a favorite. They are all delicious and you can eat them all day long.
A light meal or a full meal?
In all countries you can eat something simple or really have a full breakfast, but there are countries that take it more seriously. While in Peru, a coffee with milk and bread to start the day may be fine, in Colombia you will add meat and eggs, in Chile you can never miss out the avocado and in Venezuela you can have meat, beans, cheese and eggs in the same dish, apparently something light to start the day.
Whatever your choice for breakfast in South America, you can feel the warmth of the region. For Latinos, food touches the heart, so everything is made with love and, of course, with the best ingredients, in many cases grown a few minutes away from the restaurant.
Images: David, Andreadlserrano, Muago
