The beauty of Latin American cooking is in its simplicity. Because of this, there are only a few items you will need in your kitchen. All of these items can range in prices as well, so you can buy within your means.
These items make great gifts also for birthdays and holidays, especially if you include a couple of your favorite Latin American recipes to go with them. This is a particularly good idea because A) you have given a great, useful gift and B) you can expect to have some delicious food in the near future.
Blender
A must have. It ensures a fine chop for all of your salsas, smooth soups, and is necessary for any mixed drink with ice (margaritas, daiquiris, etc.) This is an item you will almost definitely use for an Latin meal.
A food processor works well for things like dicing, mincing, making bread crumbs; a hand blender is great for use right in the soup pot; or even a backpack for frozen margaritas.
But why would you want to store and clean all of these things when one appliance will do the job of all of them. Invest in a good blender and it will serve you well for years.
You can find blenders for anywhere from a couple bucks at a tag sale to a couple hundred for a large stainless steel model.
Metate
Metates are lava rock grinding stones from Mexico. They are similar to a mortar and pestle, but the porous rock surface of the metate gives salsas a much richer flavor. A blender will simply chop spices and herbs, but a metate will break down foods at the cellular level producing the most amount of flavor.
For a truly authentic Mexican salsa or mole, a metate is critical. They are not just found in Mexico. You can find metates used in other Latin American countries, Costa Rica in particular.
Here's the problem. You can pick one up on the Internet for about $250. Your best bet is to save some space in your suitcase and grab one for $20 on your next trip across the border.
Flat Griddle
A nice large flat griddle is a great thing to have for Latin cooking. It's great for roasting vegetables, frying up some arepas or quesadillas, or frying up some flank steaks for fajitas.
The great thing about a large griddle too is that you can prepare pretty much everything on the one surface saving time and dishes. Also, they are very affordable and do not take up much space to store.
Others
Outside of those items, a sharp knife, a pot and pan, and a couple recipes are about all you need for preparing your favorite Latin American foods.
A tortilla press, hand held lime squeezer, and a spice grinder are also nice to have, but not essential.
For more information on common Latin ingredients to keep on hand, check out this article.
