I personally love to try new things like food. Around BHS, there are many diverse cultures that have their own traditional dishes.
A Puerto Rican traditional dish is called Mofongo. Freshman Johnlee Rodriguez-Hiraldo said that Mofongo “consists of green plantains, and they are fried and mushed together with oil, garlic, salt and sometimes churrasco.” Some people like to add shrimp to their mofongo; it’s best to eat it while it’s hot.
Mofongo has a long history in the Puerto Rican culture. It goes all the way back to the Spanish conquistadors coming to Puerto Rico in the 1500s. When the Spanish arrived, they also brought Africans and enslaved them. Some say that the Africans brought the food fufu which is mofongo’s culinary ancestor, according to Caitlin Zaino from BBC.
You can find the ingredients at stores like Saraga, which is an international grocery store, and you can find other ingredients too. You can find these ethnic food markets all around Indianapolis.
Mauricio Muñoz De Los Ríos is a sophomore. Muñoz De Los Ríos loves to eat Hallaca. Hallaca is a Venezuelan hot dish that includes a variety of things like turkey, or any type of meat you prefer, peas and anything else you would enjoy. For Muñoz De Los Ríos and his family, they cook hallaca “mainly on December 23 or Christmas Eve.” It’s usually eaten in celebration as a tradition Muñoz De Los Ríos said.
There are many traditions all over the world and around BHS and these are just some of many. Next time ask one of your friends what types of food they enjoy and learn more about them.