Food for the Independence Celebrations on September 15

September 15 is an important date for many Latinos, as this day marks the independence celebrations of five countries in America, thus it is the start of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States.Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua are the countries that begin this period of honoring Hispanic history, while just one day later, on September 16, Mexico celebrates its independence and Chile on September 18.The Hispanic Heritage Month has been a grand celebration in the northern country for over 40 years, to honor the history, culture, and influence of past generations that came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.Just as in Mexico we have national dishes, such as pozole, these five Latin American countries also have their typical and delicious dishes, which are a way to honor traditions for Hispanics living in the United States during Hispanic Heritage Month.Costa Rica and its CasadoThe casado is the national dish of Costa Rica and consists of beans, rice with diced red peppers, onions, fried plantains, a coleslaw salad with tomato and carrot, and a selection of meat that can be chicken, fish, pork, or beef with roasted onions. The meat can be grilled or sautéed, but never fried, and sometimes the casado includes french fries or additional vegetables, such as avocados.The Pupusas of El SalvadorThe most famous food of El Salvador are the pupusas, similar to our gorditas, but the former are made with corn or rice flour and are filled with cheese, chicharrón, refried beans, or loroco, an edible flower native to El Salvador.Honduras has a dish called BaleadasBaleadas are a popular dish from Honduras that are loved not only by locals but also by foreigners, and it is a simple meal sold at economical prices, which consists of a wheat flour tortilla filled with refried beans, butter, and shredded cheese, although they can also include eggs, chorizo, chicken, avocado, or even fried ripe plantains.Guatemala and its Caldo Kak IkThis dish originates from the Kekchí region and is a broth with turkey meat, known in Guatemala as chunto or chompipe, vegetables, spices, and a lot of chili; it is accompanied with rice or with tamalitos de manteca.In Nicaragua, they eat Gallo PintoSimilar to Costa Rica's casado, in Nicaragua, one of the most popular dishes is Gallo Pinto, which consists of a mix of rice and red beans, which are cooked separately and then fried together with a bit of onion, garlic, and chiltoma or bell pepper.The Hispanic Heritage Month starts on September 15 and the commemorations extend until October 15. This period is perfect for reflecting on the cultural richness that Hispanics bring to the world, but especially to the United States.