In many Latino families, holidays are a very big deal, and they center around delicious food that is prepared with loving care. The holiday dinner table—whether it's Thanksgiving, Noche Buena, or Christmas Day—is always covered from end to end with amazing foods. And being that our families are made up of multiple generations—some born in the US and some not—our holiday gatherings often feature traditional American foods as well as traditional recipes from Latin American countries.
More from MamásLatinas: Christmas salads that are perfect for your Nochebuena dinner
Everybody always has their favorites. We want to share some of our favorite Latin-inspired side dishes with you for this holiday season. They are perfect for rounding out your holiday meal. They are also a way of celebrating culture, passing on traditions, and creating new traditions. Following are some ideas to get you started, including several sweets, because it's not really a full holiday meal without some dessert.
Platanos fritos are always welcome.
You know what turns a festive table into a straight-up culinary fiesta? Fried plantains! You could make sweet, gooey maduro ones made from ripe plantains or the firmer, crispy tostones made from green plantains. Or make both!
Get the full recipe for maduros from My Dominican Kitchen.
Get the full recipe for tostones from Host the Toast.
Give sweet potatoes a Mexican-style makeover with chipotle.
Sweet potato side dishes are standard fare on the average American holiday dinner table, but they usually include some kind of marshmallow something or other. In Mexico, camotes are also well loved, and this particular Mexican-inspired camotes al chipotle dish adds some kick to sweet potatoes and is actually healthier than most sweet potato and marshmallow versions.
Get the full recipe from The Other Side of the Tortilla.
Start off with a bowl of Colombian ajiaco.
Lots of people start off a holiday meal with a hearty, seasonal soup. Colombian ajiaco is full of corn and root veggies, so it totally fits the bill. You could also serve the soup before dinner while you get the everything else ready so that no one is famished while they wait.
Get the full recipe from Fork in the Road.
Arroz con gandules is a classic holiday side.
Puerto Rican arroz con gandules is a traditional Christmas dish, but it makes an appearance at pretty much every holiday meal in my home. This is a great option to have on hand for some of the younger and pickier eaters at your table.
Get the full recipe from El Boricua.
Arroz con dulce is another holiday staple.
On the sweeter side, arroz con dulce, which is basically rice pudding spiced with cinnamon and sweetened with raisins, is a delicious way to end a holiday meal. You can also serve it in individual cups instead of one big bowl.
Get the full recipe from Goya.
Make pao de queijo instead of standard dinner rolls.
Instead of those store-bought take-and-bake dinner rolls that appear on many holiday dinner tables, treat your family to some Brazilian cheese bread. You should be warned that these breads are dangerously easy to gobble up.
Get the full recipe from Our Best Bites.
Serve some pumpkin on the side.
Calabaza or pumpkin is pretty common in Latin cuisine, and it makes an awesome holiday side dish. Try it simply grilled or roasted with seasonal herbs. One of the bonuses of making it is the way it will make your home smell. AMAZING!
Get the full recipe from iCuban.
Chicharrones are a tasty and addictive starter.
Simple fried chicharrones or pork rinds are a tasty way to tide everyone over until the full meal is ready. You can set them out with lemons and some chili powder so that people can season them to their tasting.
Get the full recipe from Dominican Cooking.
Try Mexican Christmas salad this year.
Mexican Christmas salad is full of beautiful fruits and vegetables like beets, jicama, oranges, and apples and totally highlights the bounty of the season. It also looks so dang pretty on a plate, and it's good for you.
Get the full recipe from Curious Cuisiniere.
Sweeten things up with Colombian buñuelos.
Colombians typically eat buñuelos during the Christmas season. They are a lightly sweetened, cheesy fritter that is typically dipped in melted chocolate. How could you go wrong?
Get the full recipe from My Colombian Recipes.
Or you can try the Mexican version.
Mexican-style buñuelos are actually quite different from their Colombian counterpart. Though they are still fried dough, they are flat and crispy, don't have any cheese in them, and are dusted in cinnamon sugar. Yum!
Get the full recipe from Muy Bueno.
Jazz up standard cornbread with some Latin ingredients.
Cornbread is pretty standard holiday fare in some parts of the US, but versions of it are actually common in Latin America as well. Mash up the the two by adding jalapeño and cotija cheese to your holiday batch.
Find the full recipe on MamásLatinas.
Make Latin corn pudding instead of the American version.
In America, corn pudding is typically served as a Thanksgiving side, but it's also a popular dish throughout Latin America. However, the Latin version is smooth, creamy, and spiced with cinnamon, unlike the more savory American version.
Get the full recipe from Dominican Cooking.
Cranberry sauce is the perfect vehicle for Latin spices.
Cranberry sauce is the perfect complement to any holiday meal, but it doesn't have to be basic. Add some chipotle, mango, pineapple, and chiles and you're good to go. You can also leave out the chipotle and chiles if you don't want to go the spicy route.
Get the full recipe from Latino Food.
Upgrade your corn on the cob.
Corn on the cob is pretty common on Thanksgiving, but it can be a little boring year after year. Switch things up a bit by serving flavorful elote—corn smeared with crema and sprinkled with cheese and lime.
Get the full recipe from Oh Sweet Basil.
Puerto Rican pastelillos are a crowd-pleaser.
Make a batch of Puerto Rican pastelillos (similar to empanadas) for the holidays, and we guarantee you'll get request for them year after year. The ground beef version is a classic and a great addition to any meal.
Get the full recipe from The Noshery.
There's a sweet version too.
Sweet dessert empanadas are so tasty! They are typically filled with guava jam or paste with or without cheese, but the options are pretty much up to your imagination.
Get the full recipe from Dominican Cooking.
Offer up some Brazilian-style flan.
Flan is a classic Latin dessert and makes an appearance at lots of holiday meals. It's actually a lot simpler than it seems. Don't let yourself be intimidated if you've never made it before. Try this Brazilian version.
Get the full recipe from Olivia's Cuisine.
Warm everyone up with a bowl of pozole.
Mexican pozole is a pretty common addition to a holiday meal. Soup is always a delicious starter, especially during the cool months! The green version is full of chicken and tasty veggies.
Get the full recipe from Mama Latina Tips.
Pozole rojo is another great option.
Red pozole is another variation to consider. It's made with pork and has a deeper, earthier flavor. If you can't decide whether to make green or red pozole, you can always make both.
Get the full recipe from Mexico in My Kitchen.
More fried dough!
Hojuelas are another Christmas treat from Colombia. This fried dough is accented with orange juice and orange zest and great for snacking throughout the day. The orange flavor is wonderful.
Get the full recipe from My Colombian Recipes.
Take stuffed peppers to another level.
These kale and butternut squash stuffed poblano peppers are packed with seasonal ingredients and full of rich flavor. Even if you think you don't like kale, give the kale in this recipe a chance. It works!
Get the full recipe from Latino Foodie.
Mofongo will shine on your holiday table.
It may be a bit labor intensive, but Puerto Rican mofongo stuffed with chicharrón, chicken, or shrimp will be the star of any holiday dinner. So much flavor! Also, remember that you are always allowed to give any recipe your own twist.
Get the full recipe from Food So Good Mall.
Latinize those mashed potatoes.
Everybody loves mashed potatoes, but it's nice to spice things up every so often. Instead of regular mash, whip up a batch of Ecuadorian molo for the holidays. It's mashed potatoes flavored with garlic, onions, achiote, queso fresco, and lots of butter.
Get the full recipe from Laylita.
Tamales are a must.
In Mexico, it's not Christmas without tamales. Make a big batch filled with chicken or pork ahead of time and serve some up with every holiday meal. You can also opt for vegetarian ones using olives, a slice of potato, and some cheese as filling.
Get the full recipe from How to Feed a Loon.
Sweet tamales are special treat.
Lesser-known sweet tamales are also served around the holidays. They are flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, and raisins and sweetened with condensed milk. They are divine when enjoyed with coffee or hot chocolate.
Get the full recipe from Mariachi Los Muertos.
Or try pasteles for a Caribbean twist.
In Puerto Rico, pasteles are standard Christmas fare. They are very similar to tamales, but the dough is made with plantains instead of corn. The way they are wrapped is also different.
Get the full recipe from Average Guy Gourmet.
There is also a yuca version.
Though less common, pasteles can also be made with yuca instead of plantain. The texture and flavor are a little different, but they are just as delicious. This chicken version looks amazing.
Get the full recipe from Dominican Cooking.
Kids will love Argentinean pan dulce.
The pan dulce commonly served at Christmas in Argentina is similar to Italian panettone. The yeast-based bread is eggy, rich, and tender and is filled with spices, dried fruits, and nuts.
Get the full recipe from Vamo Spanish.
Pastelón can replace the standard casserole.
Why settle for a boring casserole when you can have pastelón instead? This savory layered dish of sweet plantains, ground beef, and cheese is always a winner. It also makes for great leftovers.
Get the full recipe from The Noshery.
Make more flavorful potato salad.
Throughout Latin America a dish known as "Russian potato salad" is pretty common on special occasions. It's potato salad with carrots, apples, and peas, and it's really yummy.
Get the full recipe from Dominican Cooking.
Go traditional with Christmas ponche.
In Guatemala, homemade fruit punch is a crowd-pleaser. Technically, it's a beverage, but each cup is served with a heap of the fruit the juice simmers with, so it's kind of a snack, too. It can be served with or without rum and hot or cold.
Get the full recipe from Antigua Daily Photo.
