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nutrition: food & culture

I introduce you all to the charming Ashley and her mother.

Hi Ashley, I’d like you to start by introducing yourself and your mother.

My name is Ashley Wade, and my mother was born in San Miguel, El Salvador.  She lived there with her grandparents until she was 12 years old. I will ask her the questions for you and let you know her responses.

Thank you. How was life in San Miguel?

She lived on a farm with no electricity, so she did not have a lot of the things we would consider typical in her kitchen. To this day she still considers her grandmother’s cooking the best food she’s ever had.

Wow! A kitchen without electricity actually doesn’t sound too bad to me. I like using a mortar and pestle, “beating/whipping”, and cooking on fire. Don’t get me wrong – I appreciate the convenience technology has afforded us, but some things just taste better using traditional methods in my opinion. Your mother and I have something in common with our appreciation for our grandmother’s cooking. I hold recipes and cooking techniques passed down from my grandmother dear to my heart.

Please share three traditional dishes in El Salvadoran culture and the ingredients with my readers.

1. Pollo guisado: stewed chicken, potatoes, green pepper, onion, cilantro, salt & pepper. Usually paired with white rice.
2. Pupusas: pork or chicken, cornmeal, refried beans, cheese
3. Tamales: corn meal, pork or stewed chicken, olives, plantain leaves

Although I have never had El Salvadoran dishes, I am familiar with the dishes you shared by name. I have worked with families from El Salvador and have discussed those items many times. Are there believed to be any medicinal/healing attributes to the traditional foods of El Salvador?

No. Healing properties are more seen in teas than food.

Is El Salvadoran food healthy?

It can be made healthy, but food is not cooked necessarily having that in mind. 

How are traditional El Salvadoran meals typically prepared? How long does it take?

Dishes like tamales and pupusas take many hours of work and preparation. In most cases, you would designate an entire day to the task. Everything is made by hand and is fresh.

An entire day! Okay, that’s serious business. [laughs] In my family, we designate a specific amount of time for seasoning/prepping certain dishes and another amount of time for cooking, but that kind of cooking is reserved for special occasions. It can be a long process if we have a lot of food to cook and/or are cooking for a lot of people. Everything made by hand sounds intense, but I’m down to be a designated eater. I would love to enjoy fresh food made by hand regularly. [laughs]

Are there a lot of fresh vegetables in El Salvadoran foods?

Yes, vegetables are used often.

In your opinion, would traditional El Salvadoran food work for meal prepping? 

Yes, it would be great for meal prep. Most dishes are prepared in large amounts and are filling.

Can you share with my readers what sets El Salvadoran cuisine apart from other cuisines?

The freshness! Everything is fresh. Fresh vegetables are always used. The food is never seasoned with anything more than salt and pepper.

That sounds wonderful. Fresh is best! Fresh fruits and vegetables contain the most nutrients. Let’s talk about food in America – what do you love? What do you not love?

I am not a big fan of American food or flavors. I do not eat things like hot dogs or hamburgers. 

I see. Hot dogs and hamburgers definitely aren’t at the top of the fresh food list. Would you say it’s been easy adjusting to American cuisine, and if not, what are some of the biggest adjustments you’ve had to make?

It was not an easy adjustment. It was difficult. I had to find American recipes and change them to taste more like the flavors I am familiar with, so I can make it for my family when they wanted it.

This interview has solidified my perception that cultural influence is of great importance regarding food and nutrition. Thank you. I appreciate you, Ashley for arranging this for me and thank you both for making time to do this.

You’re welcome. Thank you for involving us.