The New Orleans-based Latin American grocery Ideal Market is about to open a second location in Baton Rouge on Burbank Drive, joining a lively store on Sherwood Forest Boulevard that opened in late 2014. The family-owned chain has been expanding significantly in recent years, with four locations in greater New Orleans and additional stores forthcoming in Kenner and Houma.
Ideal Market rounds out a robust subsector of Latin American groceries in the Capital City that also includes Texas-based chain La Morenita and several smaller markets and panaderias.
We checked out Ideal Market recently and found irresistible and affordable finds, from fresh-made Mexican fruit drinks and homey plate lunches, to varied produce and plenty of Latin American staples.
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SOME OF OUR FAVORITE FINDS
Plate lunches
The variety of items at Ideal Market’s sprawling hot food line is impressive, including barbecue ribs, achiote-tinged roast chicken, yellow rice, frijoles refritos (refried beans), kidney beans cooked in savory gravy, crispy pork in green sauce, sautéed nopales (cactus) and other comfort food dishes. Don’t miss the caldo de res, a marrow-infused traditional beef soup made with hunks of beef shank and oversized cuts of squash, corn, yucca and other vegetables.
Hot stuff
Fresh, dried and preserved, there are peppers of all varieties, sizes and degrees of heat at Ideal Market, giving home cooks a chance to experiment beyond rudimentary jalapeño. Reconstituted dried peppers are an easy way to enrich the flavor and texture of dishes such as tortilla soup or posole (stew with pork and hominy). And salsa martajada, rough chopped dried peppers in oil, gives a savory, spicy kick to everything from guacamole to scrambled eggs.
Tres leches, flan and more
Ideal Markets are known for their in-house bakeries, which prepare all sorts of items, including wedding and birthday cakes, classic-style flan, plump semi-sweet conchas in three flavors and the deliciously soggy tres leches (three milk) cake. This traditional Mexican cake is prepared by perforating the top of sponge cake, then saturating it with a sauce made from three milks: evaporated, sweetened condensed and regular. It’s available at Ideal Market in several sizes, including individual slices.
Tacos outside the box
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If Taco Tuesday has gotten dull, it’s time to peruse the expansive butcher counter at Ideal Market where small-cut marinated beef, pork and chicken await. There’s even traditional pork al pastor tenderized with pineapple. Pick up a variety of these flavorful cuts of meat, sauté or grill them and serve them with any of the soft corn and flour tortillas or tostada shells available throughout the store.
Make-your-own ceviche
This inexpensive citrusy marinade produces a delectable and light ceviche that is perfect for south Louisiana springtime. Ceviche is the preparation technique in which raw fish or shellfish is marinated in lemon or lime juice and other ingredients and is effectively cooked by way of citric acid. This premade marinade yields a mild and refreshing flavor, and it works great on fresh Gulf shrimp or crabmeat. To make shrimp ceviche, fill a small container with peeled and deveined shrimp, then cover with marinade and refrigerate for 24-48 hours. Toss marinated shrimp with chopped tomatoes, celery, green onion and fresh cilantro and serve over lettuce.