| If you like your food hot! hot! hot! then you probably love Mexican food. Signature spices used in authentic Mexican recipes include cilantro, epazote, avocado leaves and oja santa. Traditional ingredients in Mexican cooking include garlic, chiles, lime juice, rice, corn, beans, squash , onions, tomatoes, avocados, bananas and chocolate.
Corn is a staple in authentic Mexican food, used to make tortillas. The corn is ground into corndough. Dried beans are also in many Mexican recipes, usually the Mexican black bean.
Chiles are an important component in many dishes. In Chef Rick Bayless’ book Mexican Kitchen he recommends roasting them yourself because they taste better that way. If you can’t roast them on a wood or charcoal fire, you can roast them over the flame of a gas burner or close up under a very hot broiler. With this method, the flesh of the chile tends to cook more than we like before the skin blisters, because most home broilers aren’t nearly as hot as the grill or the flame.
Many cooks tell you to put roasted chiles in a plastic bag and let them cool before peeling. Trapping all that heat means almost certain overcooking, so Bayless recommends putting them in a bowl and covering them with a towel for a few minutes. The steam they release will loosen the skin, making them easier to peel.
Easy Mexican recipes include tacos, quesadillas and salsa. They just have a few ingredients and can be put together in minutes. The ingredients are also economical so you won’t break the bank when making a delicious Mexican meal. Popular Mexican chicken recipes include burritos, which can have shredded chicken, beans, rice and salsa; chicken enchiladas, with chicken wrapped in tortillas and topped with cheese; and soft chicken tacos. These meals are particularly good for guests, since a variety of ingredients can be placed in each taco or tortilla to satisfy every palate. Especially easy are vegetarian tacos, filled with fresh vegetables, beans and cheese – a balanced meal in just one dish.
A perfect complement to any Mexican meal is Mexican beer, readily available at any supermarket or liquor store. Or perhaps you would prefer something more fancy. Try a margarita made with fresh lime juice, good tequila, simple syrup and topped with a lime and rimmed with salt.
To end a meal, try making a traditional flan, an egg custard with a caramel sauce. It is a sure favorite among adults and children alike.
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