Lighter Comfort Classics: Spanish-Caribbean Favorites with Marta Guzman

Take a walk on the lighter side and find ways to enjoy your favorite comfort foods that are still full of the flavors you love, with less fat, carbs, and sugars. During class, you’ll prepare a full menu of healthier, Latin-inspired dishes; vibrant recipes to nourish your body that are still fun to make and exciting to eat.

You’ll work step-by-step, cooking through each recipe in small teams as you practice key cooking techniques to deliver full satisfaction without compromising the best parts of picadillo-filled empanadas, sweet plantains, and even a piña colada-inspired dessert. Throughout class, you’ll have opportunities to ask questions and we’ll break down approachable, smart substitutions to make meals both delicious and nourishing.

At the end of class, we’ll sit down together to enjoy the impressive dishes you’ve created. You’ll leave confident, inspired, and fully prepared to recreate the entire menu at home and wow your family and friends with vibrant, healthy flavors.

About Marta Guzman

Marta is a Puerto Rico–born cook, instructor, and food entrepreneur whose culinary style is rooted in the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean and the bold, soulful dishes from across the region. What began as a small flan business in her home kitchen blossomed into a full manufacturing operation distributing desserts across seven states. Her flan and Tres Leches cakes earned “Best Flan” and “Best Dessert” awards in Austin, and her creations were served to presidents, governors, and VIPs. Marta now returns to Central Market with a new series of hands-on classes focused on delicious, healthier dishes that let home cooks keep every bit of flavor, culture, and joy intact so you can enjoy vibrant flavors and feel great.

Menu:

• Picadillo Empanadas with Bright Chimichurri

A richly seasoned picadillo-style meat filling tucked into a healthier, easy-to-use alternative shell—no dough-making necessary. These empanadas bake up crisp, aromatic, and deeply satisfying, especially when paired with a fresh herb-and-citrus chimichurri that brings brightness to every bite.

• Maduros (Caramelized Sweet Plantains)

Sweet, ripe plantains cooked with minimal oil until golden, soft, and irresistibly caramelized. A classic comfort food made lighter—but every bit as delicious.

• Dominican Green Salad with Tangy Citrus Dressing

A refreshing Caribbean-style salad of crisp greens, tomatoes, onions, and creamy avocado, finished with a lively citrus vinaigrette. Bright, simple, and the perfect contrast to richer dishes.

• Piña Colada–Inspired Frozen Sorbet

A refreshing, tropical dessert inspired by the classic pineapple-and-coconut helados sold by street vendors in Puerto Rico. This lighter, spoon able treat captures all the creamy, icy, piña colada flavor you love—without the heaviness—making it the perfect sweet finish to a vibrant meal.

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