A tasty South American twist this Eid

Tired of the same old polau-korma dishes every Eid? How about a new tantalizing flavour to excite your taste buds? Look no further as we present simple yet unique recipes of meat and vegetable dishes with a South American twist for adventurous cooks to explore this Eid-ul-Azha.

Bolivian Silpancho
This traditional Bolivian dish consisting of layers of egg, salsa, potatoes, meat and rice  is a must try for all beef lovers. The recipe is simple and easy, but leaves you longing for more with each bite.
Ingredients (1 individual serving):
¼ lb thinly sliced beef
1 cup of bread crumbs
1 potato
1 egg
1 bowl of cooked rice
1 cup of diced tomatoes
½ cup of diced red capsicum
½ cup of diced onions
Fresh cilantro chopped
2 green chillies
Vegetable oil
½ tsp cumin powder
Salt and lemon to taste
Directions: Marinate the beef slice with cumin powder, adding salt as desired. Then lightly coat the beef with vegetable oil and dip in bread crumbs. Fry the crumb-coated slice in skillet for about 15 minutes. Remove from skillet and place on absorbent paper to soak excess oil.
Place the diced tomatoes, capsicum, onions, green chillies and cilantro in a bowl. Mix with lemon and a pinch of salt to make salsa.
Thinly slice the potatoes and fry until golden brown.
Prepare a poached egg.
Serving: In a bowl, spread the slices of fried potatoes on top of the rice. Next layer the meat, then the salsa and top it off with a poached egg. It’s ready to eat!

Argentine Churrasco
Mouth-watering churrasco is an Argentine speciality popular across South America. Although this dish calls for the need of a barbecue grill, it can also be grilled in a pan.
Ingredients:

1 pound steak trimmed of fat and cut in half crosswise
½ cup chopped garlic cloves
1 tsp grounded black pepper
1 tsp chopped oregano
½ cup fresh lemon juice
½ cup fresh orange juice
1 cup minced onions
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt to taste
Directions:
Crush garlic cloves with black pepper and diced onions. Stir in the lemon and orange juice, add olive oil and salt to taste. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before using it to marinate the meat. Grill the meat to your choice of rare, medium or well done.
Serve with rice or naan.

Peruvian Causa Rellena
Famously known for their variety of potatoes, Peru boasts of many delicious potato dishes. A popular is Causa Rellena. This item can consist of tuna or chicken, and here we have substituted the meat with vegetables, making it the perfect escape for vegetarians on this very ‘meaty’ festival.
Ingredients:
2 lb potatoes
½ cup oil
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tsp chilli powder
2 green capsicums
2 red capsicums
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup diced avocado
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup mayonnaise
2/3 hard boiled eggs sliced
Black olives
Preparation: Mash the boiled potatoes to a smooth and creamy texture. Blend capsicum, chilli powder, oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice to create a thick mixture. Combine the mixture with the mashed potatoes and place one layer on the bottom of the dish. Mix the avocadoes and lettuce in mayonnaise separately, creating the second layer and spreading it on the potatoe layer. Add another layer of mashed potatoes and press carefully to sandwich the filling inside. Garnish with thinly sliced hard boiled eggs and olives.

Brazilian Brigadeiros
No meal is complete without dessert and these little drops of heaven are sure to bring a wonderful ending to your Eid lunch or dinner. Brazil’s famous chocolate fudge balls known as Brigadeiros are well loved among both children and adults and are extremely easy to make.
Ingredients:
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
¼ cup baking cocoa powder
2 tbsp unsalted butter softened
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
Chocolate sprinkles
Preparation: Whisk the condensed milk and cocoa powder till no lumps remain, then stir in the butter. Using a wooden spoon, cook in a medium non-stick saucepan keeping the heat medium to low and stirring constantly until the mixture thickens in about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls and coat in cocoa powder or chocolate sprinkles.

Well, what are you waiting for? Rush to the supermarket and grab the necessary ingredients to test your cooking skills with these simple recipes and enjoy introducing your family or friends to one of these delicious dishes. Eid Mubarak!