Mexican cuisine is known for its rich culture, spices, and versatile flavors. It is one of the most beloved and celebrated gastronomies in the world. The Mexican culinary world has plenty of history, traditions, and heritage. From authentic ingredients like chocolate, corn, and chilis to European ingredients like wheat, Mexican foods have it all.
Influences from the ancient Aztec, Maya, and Spanish cultures shaped the culinary world of Mexican foods. It is the perfect portrayal of its amazing heritage and customs. Some of the cooking techniques and rituals are quite ancient but are still used today.
Mexican foods boast balanced flavors, aromatic spices, hearty amounts, and vibrant culture. This article will address the different Mexican dishes that you will want to try.
Here Are Some Different Mexican Foods
Pozole
Pozole was important for the Aztecs and was used in sacrificial rituals. It is a classic traditional stew or soup. It is made from hominy and meat with a splendid concoction of various spices and herbs.
Hominy is basically dried kernels of maize. The meat used in this dish is generally pork. Chicken can also be used as an alternative protein. There are also vegan versions that do not involve any animal-derived ingredients.
The traditional recipe calls for stewing for long hours. For best results, it is recommended to stew it overnight. The soup is typically garnished with cabbage and chili peppers. Avocado, salsa, limes, and radishes can also be used as toppings. Pozole is one of the most popular Mexican dishes and is often served in special events like Christmas dinners and weddings.
Mole Poblano
Mole is one of the most beloved sauces in Mexico. The sauce is made with the perfect concoction of various chili peppers and spices. When the sauce is being made in the kitchen, taking in the aroma will already fill your senses and make you salivate.
For optimum taste, the sauce needs to be constantly stirred over a long period of time. Making this sauce is labor-intensive, but the results are worth the hard work. Mole poblano is one of the favorites amongst the Mexican locals and spicy food enthusiasts.
One of the core ingredients of mole poblano is chocolate. The use of this ingredient makes the sauce unique. Chocolate originated in Mexico, and so it is no surprise that it is so deeply incorporated into Mexican cuisine.
Mole poblano is generally made with over 20 ingredients along with chocolate and chilis. It is a thick sauce that is often poured over turkey, chicken, or shrimp cakes. It is considered one of the national dishes of Mexico.
Like pozole, it is also served on special occasions like weddings, birthdays, and holidays. The range of flavors of this sauce is out of the world and should be tried at least once in a lifetime.
Huevos Rancheros
Huevos rancheros literally mean ranch eggs. It is ideal for breakfasts and brunch. Incredibly hearty, it gives you the perfect boost to start the day.
The dish consists of tortillas made with corn and fried eggs that are often topped with homemade salsa. It can also be served with Mexican rice, guacamole, avocado slices, fried potatoes, refried beans, and peppers.
Chilaquiles
Another mouth-watering Mexican breakfast is chilaquiles. This meal consists of fried or roasted corn tortillas called totopos. These tortillas are usually served in triangular shapes and are generally doused in green or red spicy sauce. They are also served with your choice of salsa. It can be either green salsa (salsa verde) or red salsa (salsa roja). It is generally topped with onions, cheese, and cream.
The protein portion of this meal is generally shredded chicken or scrambled or fried eggs. Guacamole and refried beans can also be added to this dish. It is typically garnished with fresh cheese and coriander. People make good use of their stale tortillas by making this delectable meal.
Chiles en Nogada
Chiles en nogada is one of the most patriotic meals of Mexico. It boasts the three vibrant colors of the Mexican flag. The green part of the flag is represented by the local poblano chilies stuffed with a filling of minced meat, spices, and dried fruits. This filling is known as picadillo.
The white part of the flag is portrayed by a walnut-based cream sauce. This white sauce is called nogada. Pomegranate seeds garnished on the top depict the red part of the flag.
This dish originated in Pueblo. It was the first meal served to the liberator and emperor of Mexico, Don Agustin de Iturbide. This makes chiles en nogada have historic significance.
Tacos
Tacos usually come to mind immediately when someone mentions Mexican foods. It is widely known all over the world. There are many variations but the main component is always the tortilla that will hold the different types of fillings.
The most common fillings are various steaks, offal, chorizo, and pork. Unlike the crispy Western versions of tacos, authentic tacos are made with soft tortillas that are freshly made with corn. There are also uncommon tacos that are considered to be delicacies as some of them have scorpions, bulls’ testicles, and ant larvae stuffings.
Ant larvae are known as escamoles and are found in the central and southern parts of Mexico. The larvae can only be harvested once a year and are often treated like caviar as they are also expensive. The most preferred tacos are al pastor, carnitas, and guisado style tacos.
Tacos al pastor is one of the most famous Mexican meals and was introduced by Lebanese immigrants. The tacos consist of tortillas and spit-roasted pork. The tacos resemble the Greek gyros and Turkish döner kebab. The meat is shaved off from the rotating pork and is often topped with pineapples.
Carnitas tacos originated from Michoacán. Carnitas means little meat. The filling is pork that has been slow-cooked and well-seasoned. It is commonly served with salsa, diced onions, guacamole, chopped cilantro, and refried beans.
Guisado style tacos consist of fillings that have been stewed in ceramic vessels. The stuffing is typically ground beef and vegetables which are referred to as picadillo hash.
Final Thoughts
Mexican cuisine has a lot to offer and descriptive words do not do any justice to what they actually taste like. Explore the various food offered in Mexican cuisine and you will have an experience like never before.
