Guide to Food-related Things

This is a page to help a non-Nicaraguan understand what a Nicaraguan is talking about with regard to food. Think of it as an evolving glossary.

Food Items

• achote -- Annatto. A spice used in sauces and guiso (stew).
• atol -- Corn, milk, sugar and naciste with cinnamon.
• enchilada -- A flat, crisp corn tortilla with something on it. This could be beans, cheese, cabbage, meat or any combination thereof. If you are in the US and talk about tostadas, this is the same animal.
• güirila -- (Native American word) Sweet corn (maiz tierno) made into a tortilla.
• nacatamal -- Like a typical US-based tamale. Corn meal with something inside. Typically it is chicken or pork but can be vegetarian. Rumor (from my wife) is that raw rice is at the bottom of the stuff inside. Wrapped in a platano leaf and cooked.
• quesillos -- Cheese wrapped in a tortilla with onions, cabbage and cream.
• rosquete -- Sorta like a rosquilla but with dulce or something else to make it sweet.
• rosquilla -- A baked crisp corn and cheese ring. Or maybe in a different shape. Hard to explain so go to Somoto and buy some.
• taco -- A rolled corn tortilla with something in it. If you are in the US and talk about taquitos, this is the same animal.
• tamal -- Steamed corn meal possible with a little sugar (if the corn is not sweet).
• tiste -- Drink made from corn and cacao.
• tortilla -- Either a tortilla (as in a thin corn patty) or an omlette.