10 Latino Twists to Make Your Burgers More Delicious

close up photo of a hamburger

May 28 is International Burger Day and what better way to celebrate than by having a nice burger? One of the best ways to make sure your burger is amazing is to make it a home and if you want to elevate it even further, you should consider adding a Latino twist to it. How? Well, there are plenty of options because each Latin American country enjoys burgers a certain way. Here are 10 Latino twists to make your burgers more delicious:


Make “salsa tártara” from Venezuela

Hamburger with tartar sauce

Copyright © 2024 Sweet y Salado

Salsa tártara, or tartar sauce, is a staple in Venezuelan cuisine and it’s usually enjoyed with fried foods like tequeños–one of the best Latin American snacks. This sauce is also popularly used in fast food, including burgers and hot dogs. If you want to give your burgers a Venezuelan twist, Venezuelan tartar sauce is very easy to make. You just need to blend mayonnaise with chopped pickles, capers, parsley, onion, mustard, a splash of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Spread it generously on your burger and we recommend you keep it simple with just the patty, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Add some Argentinian chimichurri

traditional Argentine dressing called chimichurri

Photo by Dominic Lockyer on Flickr

Chimichurri is a versatile sauce from Argentina and it doesn’t just go on grilled meats and even empanadas. It’s typically made with chopped parsley, ground garlic, vinegar, olive oil, and red pepper flakes, so it’s very easy to make. Chimichurri is fresh, zesty, and has a bit of a kick, which is why it’s the go-to for asados in Argentina. It’s also why it will also go super well on a burger or you can mix it in with the ground beef for the patties, making them more flavorful than ever.

Use queso fresco for a Mexican twist

burger with fresh cheese

Photo by Andra on Pexels

Queso fresco is a mild, creamy, and milky cheese that’s crazy popular in Mexico and Central America. It usually goes on tacos, but it will work well on a burger because it has a super soft texture and its subtle flavor won’t overpower everything else you add. Queso fresco can be a bit difficult to slice, so if you can’t manage it, you can just crumble it up and add it on top of your patty. Either way, it will be delicious!

Spread some Brazilian Catupiry cheese

Catupiry brand container of traditional Brazilian cheese.

Copyright © Catupiry

Speaking of cheese, Catupiry can be another great addition to your burger. This cheese comes from Brazil and it’s spreadable, so it will be very easy to use. You can spread it on your burger bun or on top of the patty. Usually, Catupiry cheese is used for pastries and other savory dishes, and it’s known for its rich, buttery flavor. This is quite an indulgent Latino twist for a burger, so you’ll love every bite.

Incorporate some Colombian aji picante for a spicy kick

burger with traditional Colombian hot pepper sauce

Aji picante is a spicy, tangy sauce from Colombia and it can make your burger a bit more complex. It’s made with hot peppers, cilantro, green onions, vinegar, and lime juice, so it’s not just spicy, it’s also zesty and super flavorful. It’s the perfect addition to your burger if you love a bit of heat, but be careful not to overdo it!

Add salsa criolla from Peru

Traditional Peruvian sauce called 'Salsa Criolla'

Photo by Rebecca T. Caro on Flickr

If you like relish, this Peruvian take on it might just become one of your favorite burger additions. Salsa criolla is a kind of relish made with thinly sliced red onions, cilantro, lime juice, and aji peppers. It’s refreshing and it has a nice sing to it, so it’s a great option if you want your burger to be a savory flavor bomb.

Try some Puerto Rican mofongo

burger with traditional Puerto Rican sauce called 'mofongo'

Mofongo is a Puerto Rican specialty made from mashed fried green plantains mixed with chicharrón (fried pork skin), garlic, and some broth. Mofongo is a popular side dish, but you can add it to your burger to enhance the flavor and add a bit of texture to it. If you find that you love mofongo and want to take it up a notch, you can actually use slices of mofongo instead of a bun on your next burger night.

Add some Mexican guacamole

preparation of mexican guacamole

If queso fresco is not really for you, you can use guacamole instead to add a Mexican twist to your burgers. Guacamole is a delicious dip and it’s so popular outside of Mexico that you probably already know how to make it. You just need ripe avocados, lime juice, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños if you want to make it spicy. Once the guacamole is done, make your burger and add it on top of your patty. Alternatively, you could top every bite with it. Either way, you’ll enjoy it!

Add Honduran curtido to your burger

Traditional Honduran dressing called 'encurtido'

Photo by Sazónlatinocon Lizz on YouTube

If you’re a fan of anything pickled, you’ll love Honduran curtido. It’s basically pickled onions, carrots, and cabbage, with garlic and a touch of oregano. They use white vinegar to make it, so curtido is nice and tangy. The texture is also crunchy, which will make your burger a bit more complex. Curtido contrasts very well with a juicy burger patty with its fermented flavor, so it’s definitely a Latino twist you must try.

Drizzle with Salvadoran salsa roja

Hamburger with Salvadoran red sauce

Last but not least, you can add Salvadoran salsa roja to your burger. Salsa roja is a type of tomato sauce made with fresh or canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, and chili pepper (it can be jalapeño, serrano, or whatever chili pepper you prefer), seasoned with dried oregano, salt, and pepper. The sauce is sharp, aromatic, and full of flavor, which means it can take a simple burger to the next level.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).