Portal:Mexican cuisine
Portal maintenance status: (October 2018)
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Introduction
Mexican cuisine began about 9,000 years ago, when agricultural communities such as the Maya formed, domesticating maize, creating the standard process of corn nixtamalization, and establishing their foodways. Successive waves of other Mesoamerican groups brought with them their own cooking methods. These included the Olmec, Teotihuacanos, Toltec, Huastec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Purépecha, Totonac, Mazatec, and Mazahua.
The Mexica establishment of the Aztec Empire created a multi-ethnic society where many different foodways became infused. The staples are native foods, such as corn, beans, squash, amaranth, chia, avocados, tomatoes, tomatillos, cacao, vanilla, agave, turkey, spirulina, sweet potato, cactus, and chili pepper.
Selected general articles
The milanesa (in Italian "cotoletta alla milanese") is a South American variation of an Italian dish where generic types of breaded meat fillet preparations are known as a milanesa.
The milanesa was brought to the Southern Cone by Italian immigrants during the mass emigration called the Italian diaspora between 1860-1920s. Its name probably reflects an original Milanese preparation, cotoletta alla Milanese, which is similar to the Austrian Wiener Schnitzel. Read more...
Arroz con pollo (Spanish for rice with chicken) is a traditional dish of Spain and Latin America, closely related to paella. In the Dominican Republic it is alternately called locrio de pollo, and in Saint Martin it is called lokri or locreo.
There is some debate as to whether it originated in Spain or Puerto Rico. Many Puerto Ricans note that arroz con pollo cannot be made without beer and annatto oil, and saffron is no substitute. Beer and annatto are rarely used in Spanish cooking and never in arroz con pollo there. Annatto is frequently used in Puerto Rican cooking especially in rice dishes like arroz con gandules (rice with pork and pigeon peas) and arroz con maiz (rice with corn and sausage). Beer is used in many Puerto Rican dishes like pollo guisado (braised stewed chicken) and asopao de pollo (chicken rice stew). Arroz con pollo and most Puerto Rican rice dishes are highly seasoned with sofrito, which is another key ingredient in arroz con pollo. Read more...
Earthenware comals of various sizes
A comal is a smooth, flat griddle typically used in Mexico, Central and parts of South America to cook tortilla, arepas, toast spices and nuts, sear meat, and generally prepare food. Similar cookware is called a budare in South America. Some comals are concave and made of "barro" (clay). These are still made and used by the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America. Comals are similar to the American griddle or the Indian tava, and are often used and named interchangeably with these.
Comals for home use are generally made from heavy cast iron, and sized to fit over either one burner on the stovetop (round) or two burners front to back (elongated oval). In many indigenous and prehispanic cultures, the comal is handed down from grandmother to mother to daughter, the idea being that a comal tempered over many years of usage will heat faster and cook cleaner. Read more...
Beef brains and veal (juvenile beef) or calf's brains are used in the cuisines of France; Italy; Spain; El Salvador; Mexico, etc. where they are called sesos in Spanish and are eaten in tacos and quesadillas; Pakistan, where they are known in Urdu as Maghaz; Portugal; Indonesia; and in the United States, especially in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Ohio River valley.
Calf's brains, or cervelle de veau, is a traditional delicacy in Europe and Morocco. It is the brain of a calf consumed as meat. It is often served with tongue, sauteed with beurre noir and capers, or mixed with scrambled eggs.
In Italy cervella fritte is a popular dish made of bite-sized batter-fried morsels of beef brain. Beef brains have a mushy texture and very little inherent flavor and are typically flavored with sauces such as chile sauce and sauce ravigote. Read more...
Huevos rancheros (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈweβoz ranˈtʃeɾos], ‘eggs ranch-style’) is a breakfast dish consisting of eggs served in the style of the traditional large mid-morning fare on rural Mexican farms.
The basic dish consists of fried eggs served upon lightly fried or charred corn or flour tortillas topped with a salsa fresca made of tomatoes, Chili peppers, onion, and cilantro. Refried beans, Mexican-style rice, and slices of avocado or guacamole are common accompaniments, with cilantro as a garnish. Read more...
Ceviche, also cebiche, seviche or sebiche (Spanish pronunciation: [seˈβitʃe]), is a seafood dish typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ají, chili peppers or other seasonings including chopped onions, salt, and cilantro. Whereas the dish is not cooked with heat, it must be prepared and consumed fresh to minimize the risk of food poisoning. Ceviche is usually accompanied by side dishes that complement its flavors, such as sweet potato, lettuce, corn, avocado or plantain. The dish is popular in the Pacific coastal regions of Latin America. Though the origin of ceviche is hotly debated, in Peru it is considered a national dish.
Though archeological records suggest that something resembling ceviche may have been consumed in Peru nearly two thousand years ago, some historians believe the predecessor to the dish was brought to Peru by Moorish women from Granada, who accompanied the Spanish conquistadors and colonizers, and this dish eventually evolved into what is now considered ceviche. Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio further explains that the dominant position Lima held through four centuries as the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru allowed for popular dishes such as ceviche to be brought to other Spanish colonies in the region, and in time they became a part of local cuisine by incorporating regional flavors and styles. Read more...
Esquites (or ezquites) (or troles and trolelotes in Northeast Mexico) also known as vasito de elotes (little corn-cup) is a Mexican snack or antojito. Shops and market stalls selling corn also tend to sell esquites. The word esquites comes from the Nahuatl word ízquitl, which means "toasted corn".
Esquites is generally made from mature corn, not fresh or dried. In one recipe, the grains of corn are first boiled in salted water. Then they are sautéed in butter with onions, chopped pequin chiles, epazote, and salt. It is served hot in small cups and topped with varying combinations of lime juice, chile powder or hot sauce, salt, and mayonnaise. Read more...
Tripas, in Mexican cuisine (known as chitterlings in English-speaking countries), are the small intestines of farm animals that have been cleaned, boiled and grilled. Tripas are used as filling for tacos, then dressed with condiments such as cilantro, chopped onions, and chile sauce. They are also served with pico de gallo and guacamole. Read more...- Chilorio is a pork dish from the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Chilorio is generally made from pork fried in chile sauce.
In making chilorio, pork is slow-simmered for hours until it falls apart. It is then broken into bite size pieces, fried in lard, and cooked in a chile sauce made from re-hydrated dried chiles. The sauce is usually flavored with onions, cumin and garlic. Read more...
Qurabiya (Azerbaijani: قورابیه Qurabiyə, Turkish: Kurabiye, Arabic: غرّيبة, Bosnian Gurabija, Greek: κουραμπιές, Bulgarian: курабия, Persian: قرابی), is a shortbread-type biscuit, usually made with ground almonds. Read more...
Pan dulce (English: sweet bread) is the name for a variety of Mexican pastries. The creation of sweet bread was influenced by the French and Spaniards who were the ones that introduced baked goods such as crispy rolls, baguettes, and sweet pastries to Mexico. This inspired the indigenous peoples to create different types of panes dulces such as besos, conchas, and cuernos, among others. The bread is considered to be one of Mexico's most inexpensive treats and is consumed daily as breakfast or late supper, known as merienda. Read more...
Totopo, in Mexican cuisine, is a flat, round, or triangular corn product similar to a tortilla, that has been toasted, fried or baked, but it may be prepared with nixtamalized corn masa. Totopos are best known as originating from Zapotec peoples of the isthmus of Tehuantepec region of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. There, the Zapotec women bake totopos in a clay oven known as a comixcal. Totopos resemble a round, baked tortilla chip or certain types of Scandinavian flat bread, however, unlike tortillas, salt is added to the masa and holes are made in the disk prior to baking.
Totopo may also refer to triangular fried tortillas (totopos de maiz), which are essentially Tortilla chips. When the whole round tortilla is baked or fried it is generally known as a tostada. Read more...
Refried beans (Spanish: frijoles refritos) is a dish of cooked and mashed beans and is a traditional staple of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, although each cuisine has a different approach when making the dish. Refried beans are also popular in many other Latin American countries. Read more...
Salsa is any one of several sauces typical of Mexican cuisine, also known as salsa fresca, hot salsa or salsa picante, particularly those used as dips. Salsa is often tomato-based, and includes ingredients such as onions, chilies, an acid and herbs. It is typically piquant, ranging from mild to extremely hot. Though many different sauce preparations are called salsa in Spanish, in English, it generally refers to raw or near-raw sauces used as dips. Read more...
Machaca
ma't͡ʃaka (help·info) is a traditionally dried meat, usually spiced beef or pork, which is rehydrated and then used in popular local cuisine in Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States. It is also readily available in many ethnic groceries and supermarkets in these areas. In areas where the dried meat product is not easy to obtain, slow-cooked roast beef (brisket) or skirt steak shredded then fried is sometimes substituted.
Prepared machaca can be served any number of ways from tightly rolled flautas, to tacos, to burritos, or on a plate with eggs, onions and with peppers (chiles verdes or chiles poblanos). Machaca is almost always served with flour tortillas, which tend to be large, up to 20 inches in diameter. A very popular breakfast or brunch dish is machaca with eggs, associated with miners in the state of Chihuahua. Read more...
Papadzules (Spanish pronunciation: [papaˈtsules]; Mexican Spanish, from Mayan [papatsʼuːles]) is a traditional dish from the Yucatán Peninsula resembling enchiladas. In its simplest form it consists of corn tortillas dipped in a sauce of pepita (pumpkin seeds) filled with hard-boiled eggs, and garnished with a cooked tomato-pepper sauce. Read more...
Pulpo a la campechana is a traditional dish in Mexican cuisine. It consists of chopped octopus that is slowly boiled in water with its ink, vinegar, onion, garlic. The cooked octopus is mixed with a preparation of tomatoes, onion, garlic, coriander leaves, chile ancho and wine. It is served with white rice. Read more...
Mole (/ˈmoʊleɪ/, /ˈmoʊli/ Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmole]; from Nahuatl mōlli, "sauce") is a traditional sauce originally used in Mexican cuisine, as well as for dishes based on these sauces. Outside Mexico, it often refers specifically to mole poblano. In contemporary Mexico, the term is used for a number of sauces, some quite dissimilar, including black, red/colorado, yellow, green, almendrado, de olla, huaxmole, guacamole and pipián. Generally, a mole sauce contains a fruit, chili pepper, nut and such spices as black pepper, cinnamon, cumin, and chocolate. Read more...
5 rolled beef tacos with guacamole, lettuce, and cheese
A taquito (Spanish pronunciation: [taˈkito], literally Spanish for "small taco"), tacos dorados, rolled taco, or flauta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈflauta], literally Spanish for "flute") is a Mexican food dish that typically consists of a small rolled-up tortilla that contains filling, including beef, cheese or chicken. The filled tortilla is then crisp-fried or deep-fried. The dish is often topped with condiments such as sour cream and guacamole. Corn tortillas are generally used to make taquitos; the dish is more commonly known as flautas when they are larger than their taquito counterparts, and can be made with either flour or corn tortillas although using corn is more traditional. Read more...
Chilaquiles (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃilaˈkiles]) from the Nahuatl word chīlāquilitl [t͡ʃiːlaːˈkilit͡ɬ] is a traditional Mexican dish. Read more...
Picadillo served with rice
Picadillo (Spanish pronunciation: [pikaˈðiʎo], "mince") is a traditional dish in many Latin American countries and the Philippines (where it is known as giniling, and also arroz a la Cubana) that is similar to hash. It is made with ground beef, tomatoes (tomato sauce may be used as a substitute), and other ingredients that vary by region.
It is often served with rice or used as a filling in dishes such as tacos, savoury pastries or croquettes.
The name comes from the Spanish word picar, which means "to mince". Read more...
Tacos made with carnitas filling
Carnitas, literally meaning "little meats", is a dish of Mexican cuisine originating from the state of Michoacán. Carnitas are made by braising or simmering pork in oil or preferably lard until tender. The process takes three to four hours, and the result is very tender and juicy meat, which is then typically served with chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) and diced onion, salsa, guacamole, tortillas, and refried beans (frijoles refritos). Read more...
A molote is a filled, corn-based pastry usually served as an appetizer or snack in Mexican cuisine. It consists of a dough made from corn masa, sometimes blended with mashed potatoes, that is filled with various ingredients, then fried in lard or oil. In some areas molotes are rolled into cigar shapes or ovals, in others they are formed into half moons similar to empanadas. Read more...
Puntas are a traditional dish of Mexican cuisine. It consists of small cuts of meat cooked in various Mexican sauces, either of dried chili or fresh chilis sauces. Initially, the tips were made with strips of leftover beef cut, known as puntas de filete. Then, different types of meat have been used. Read more...
5 rolled beef tacos with guacamole, lettuce, and cheese
A taquito (Spanish pronunciation: [taˈkito], literally Spanish for "small taco"), tacos dorados, rolled taco, or flauta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈflauta], literally Spanish for "flute") is a Mexican food dish that typically consists of a small rolled-up tortilla that contains filling, including beef, cheese or chicken. The filled tortilla is then crisp-fried or deep-fried. The dish is often topped with condiments such as sour cream and guacamole. Corn tortillas are generally used to make taquitos; the dish is more commonly known as flautas when they are larger than their taquito counterparts, and can be made with either flour or corn tortillas although using corn is more traditional. Read more...
In North America and Central America, a corn tortilla or just tortilla (/tɔːrˈtiːə/, Spanish: [toɾˈtiʎa]) is a type of thin, unleavened flatbread, made from powdered hominy (nixtamalized maize (corn)). In Guatemala and Mexico, there are three colors of maize dough for making tortillas: white maize, yellow maize and blue maize (or black maize).
A similar bread from South America, called arepa (though arepas are typically much thicker than tortillas), predates the arrival of Europeans to America, and was called tortilla by the Spanish from its resemblance to the traditional Spanish round, unleavened cakes and omelettes (originally made without potatoes, which are native to South America). The Aztecs and other Nahuatl-speakers call tortillas tlaxcalli ([t͡ɬaʃˈkalli]); these have become the prototypical tortillas. Read more...
Piedra or tuniche is a Mexican dish. It consists of a corn dumpling with some sort of stuffing, which is fried until crunchy consistency. Piedras are commonly accompanied with pink onion, chopped lettuce and guacamole. Read more...
A chalupa (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃaˈlupa]) is a specialty of south-central Mexico, including the states of Puebla, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. Chalupas are made by pressing a thin layer of masa dough around the outside of a small mold, in the process creating a concave container resembling the boat of the same name, and then deep frying the result to produce crisp, shallow corn cups. These are filled with various ingredients such as shredded chicken, pork, chopped onion, chipotle pepper, red salsa, and/or green salsa. They can in many cases resemble tostadas since both are made of a fried or baked masa based dough.
Traditional chalupas, as found in Cholula in the state of Puebla, are small, thick, boat-shaped fried masa topped only with salsa, cheese and shredded lettuce. Other regions in Mexico add variations, which can include chorizo, pork, shredded chicken, or bean paste in addition to the classic cheese, salsa, and lettuce toppings. In other instances, the fried masa shape is round, resembling a tostada, with traditional chalupa toppings. Read more...
Carne asada (literally "grilled meat") is a dish of grilled and sliced beef, usually arrachera, sirloin steak, tenderloin steak or rib steak. It is usually cooked with a certain amount of searing to impart a charred flavor. Carne asada can be served as a main dish or as an ingredient in other dishes. The term carne asada translates to "grilled meat"; the English "roast beef" is so named in Spanish.
The term "Carne asada" is used in Latin America, and refers to the style of grilled meat in those countries. In South America, the term used for grilled meat is "asado", and it has a different style and preparation. Read more...
A pumpkin seed, also known as a pepita (from the Mexican Spanish: pepita de calabaza, "little seed of squash"), is the edible seed of a pumpkin or certain other cultivars of squash. The seeds are typically rather flat and asymmetrically oval, and light green in color and may have a white outer hull. Some cultivars are hulless, and are grown only for their seed. The seeds are nutrient-rich, with especially high content of protein, dietary fiber and numerous micronutrients. The word can refer either to the hulled kernel or unhulled whole seed, and most commonly refers to the roasted end product. Read more...
Pozol being served at the boardwalk of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas
Pozol (from the Nahuatl "Pozōlli") is the name of both fermented corn dough and the drink made from it, which has its origins in Pre-Columbian Mexico. Other ingredients besides corn dough and water, such as cocoa, may be added to it. The drink is consumed in the south of Mexico in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco. It is a thirst-quencher which has also been used to fight diseases. It has also aided indigenous peoples of the Americas as sustenance on long trips across the jungles. Read more...
Salsa verde (lit. green sauce) is a type of spicy, green sauce in Mexican cuisine. It is based on tomatillo and chili pepper.
This green sauce comes in subtypes: cooked sauce, in which the ingredients are cooked and then ground; roasted salsa, in which the elements are roasted on a comal and then ground; raw sauce, in which ingredients are ground and eaten without cooking; and a combination in which some elements cooked. A molcajete or a blender can be used for the grinding process. After the sauce is prepared, it can be cooked again in a pan with a little oil. Read more...
Hibiscus tea is a herbal tea made as an infusion from crimson or deep magenta-coloured calyces (sepals) of the roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flower. It is consumed both hot and cold.
It has a tart, cranberry-like flavour, and sugar or honey is often added to sweeten it. The tea contains vitamin C and minerals and is used traditionally as a mild medicine. In west Sudan, a white hibiscus flower is favoured for its bitter taste and is customarily served to guests. Read more...
Queso en salsa or queso con chile is a typical dish in Mexican cuisine. It consists in cow's milk cheese submerged in a mild spicy salsa. There may be variations in the type of cheese used to make this dish, but the cheeses often selected are ranchero, Cotija, panela and Oaxaca. The salsa is made with red or green tomatoes, that are roasted with onion, garlic and chillies until golden, all blended and boiled in water, and may be seasoned with coriander leaves. The cheese is added after the boiling is off. For a sauce with red tomatoes, the preferred chiles are chipotle, pasilla or guajillo. Read more...- The mixmole de pescado is a dish of Mexican cuisine. It consists in a combination of fried fish, chopped chards, epazote and nopalitos, boiled in a green sauce, which is made with a ground mixture of green tomatoes, chili peppers and garlic, that is fried in oil. The fried fish is added at the end to avoid tearing it. Read more...
An enchilada (/ˌɛntʃɪˈlɑːdə/, Spanish: [entʃiˈlaða]) is a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a chili pepper sauce. Enchiladas can be filled with a variety of ingredients, including various meats, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables or combinations. Originating in Mexico, enchiladas are a popular dish throughout Mexico and the American Southwest. Read more...
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Selected images
Tacos al pastor in Mérida, Yucatán.
A molcajete and tejolote, the traditional mortar and pestle of Mexico.
Huachinango a la veracruzana, a dish based on red snapper.
Frijol con puerco prepared with beans, pork, epazote, onion, cilantro, lemon, radishes and habanero chile.
Chocolate being poured at a market at Villa de Etla, Oaxaca.
Mojarra frita served with various garnishes, including nopales, at Isla de Janitzio, Michoacán.
Las Tortilleras, an 1836 lithograph after a painting by Carl Nebel of women grinding corn and making tortillas.
Habanero chili, one of most spicy chilli peppers and commonly used in Mexican street food
Ingredients at a market in Mexico City, including huitlacoche, quintoniles, huauzontle and squash flowers.
A café de chinos in the historic center of Mexico City. These cafes were run by Chinese Mexicans and became popular in the 20th century.
Pechuga adobada, chicken breast in adobo with a side of chayote, mushrooms, corn and poblano rajas. Adobo, including a key item, vinegar, arrived with the Spanish. A common characteristic of Mexican adobo is its incorporation of chile ancho.
Enchiladas with tasajo beef.
Pozole, originally prepared with human meat, now is a common holiday dish in the country
A reconstructed kitchen at the 16th century former monastery of San Miguel Arcángel, Huejotzingo, Puebla.
Mole sauce, which has dozens of varieties across the Republic (mole poblano pictured), is seen as a symbol of Mexicanidad and is considered Mexico's national dish.
Hot chocolate and pan dulce are the quintessential breakfast in Mexico. Many of Mexico's sweet breads were influenced by French immigrants.
Subcategories
Topics
| Soups and stews | ||
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| Rice dishes | ||
| Egg dishes | ||
| Vegetable dishes | ||
| Poultry dishes | ||
| Pork dishes | ||
| Beef dishes | ||
| Seafood dishes |
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| Other protein dishes | ||
| Cheese dishes | ||
| Antojitos of corn dough | ||
| Antojitos of wheat dough | ||
| Sauces and condiments |
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| Desserts and sweets | ||
| Salads | ||
| Breads | ||
| Beverages | ||
| Related topics | ||
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