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Mexican Food Articles

An Introduction to Mexican Recipes and Mexican Food

Mexican food has evolved over the centuries into what it is today. The melting pot of cultures and cuisines responsible for contributing towards what we know today as Mexican food includes African, Caribbean, Portuguese, Spanish and French dishes, amongst others. Mexico is also a very large country and each region has its own specialties and preferences.

A Little Mexican History

Mexican history is a fascinating subject and Mexican food as we know it can be traced back to the arrival of the Spanish explorers in the early 1600s. This later resulted in the Conquest of Mexico and this culture collision forced a fusion of Aztec and Spanish flavors together, resulting in a lot of the famous Mexican recipes we are familiar with today. Cheese, milk, wine, meat, garlic, and citrus are all Mexican staples today but these came originally from the Spanish. Aztec ingredients include corn, squash, and beans.

Mexican food continued to evolve and Tex Mex food also emerged, which blends the flavors and cooking styles of the southwestern United States with northern Mexico. Mexican food, contrary to popular belief, is not all spicy.

Mexican recipes range from aromatic and mild to fiery hot. There are Mexican recipes for all occasions including soup, salad, pastries, stews, casseroles, rice dishes, sweet bread recipes, salsas, meat dishes, fish dishes, and a whole lot more.

Typical Mexican Food

It can be difficult to define typical Mexican food exactly, just because it is so varied. What somebody might eat on the east Mexican coast is also very different from the food eaten by someone living in the center of the country, just because of what is available in each place. Communities living by the sea are used to eating a lot of seafood, for example, so many local dishes include fish and seafood. More inland, where seafood is either not available or more expensive, beef and chicken are more popular.

There are certain things that regional Mexican meals do have in common however, and one of those is the use of fresh produce. Mexicans love to cook with fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as fresh meat and fish wherever possible. Herbs and spices add the finishing accents to those wonderful Mexican meals and there are certainly a lot to choose from.

The Best Mexican Cooking Tips

If you want to explore the world of Mexican cuisine, the best advice is to jump right it. Pick a recipe you like the look of and make it. You will be delighted that so many Mexican recipes are so simple. Easy recipes are not lackluster recipes, however, and fresh produce has so much flavor of its own that you simply do not have to add lots of other ingredients to give authentic Mexican recipes their unmistakable flavor. Choose the best, ripest, and most flavorful ingredients and let those ingredients do the talking.

If you are a newcomer to Mexican cooking, you might like to learn about the Mexican recipe staples. Corn is one of the key food ingredients in Mexican recipes. It was the main staple of the Aztec diet and it is primary used in Mexico today for making tortillas.

Beans are another staple in Mexican recipes and these are healthy as well as economical and filling. Mexican cheese, chilies, cilantro, avocado, beef, chicken, and tomatoes are also popular ingredients in Mexican cuisine and it is fun to make a range of Mexican recipes, so you can experiment with these flavorful ingredients and more.

Enjoy and watch out for the hot spots.

Mexican Food Articles and Mexican Recipes Links

Mexican Cooking
Mexican Cooking Tips
Mexican Food
Mexican Food Glossary
Mexican Herbs and Spices And More
Mexican History
Mexican Holidays
Mexican Recipes

 

Mexican Cooking

A Traditional Mexican Cooking Guide

There is nothing difficult about cooking Mexican food and a lot of Mexican recipes are incredibly easy. Mexican dishes often rely on good quality meat, poultry or seafood, as well as fresh seasonal produce and a variety of seasonings. You do not need any special equipment for Mexican cooking but you might find a few things helpful, especially if you discover that you like to make Mexican food. A comal, which is a Mexican griddle, is handy to have, and a mortar and pestle is great for crushing and grinding fresh herbs and spices. These items are used in traditional Mexican kitchens and you might find them timesaving.

Really Authentic Mexican Cooking

If you want to cook like a Mexican, it is important to take pride in your recipes. Use the best ingredients you can get, whether that is a great steak or some good quality fish. Cheap cuts of meat like skirt steak can also be used successfully if you slow cook them to make them tender. Use fresh, ripe fruit and vegetables and fresh herbs wherever possible. Mexican food recipes often look very tempting and you can use all kinds of colorful garnishes to make your food look even nicer. Traditional Mexican ingredients like avocado, queso fresco, Mexican vanilla beans, fresh cilantro and more will lend an air of authenticity to your Mexican recipes.

Mexican Cooking Styles and Equipment
Mexican Cooking
Useful and Traditional Mexican Cooking Utensils
What is the Definition of Ceviche and How to Make Ceviche
How to Make Low Fat Mexican Food
Canning Salsa - How to Can Salsa at Home
How to Make Salsa the Authentic Mexican Way

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Mexican Cooking Tips

Handy and Useful Mexican Cooking Tips

If you are new to Mexican cooking, follow the recipes carefully. Sometimes a recipe might specify that you need to use a certain type of chili pepper and others times it is fine to use any chili. If you already know about the most typical Mexican ingredients, you can substitute ingredients as and when you like but if you are learning about this delicious cuisine, it might be best to stick to the recipes. Mexican food is as much about simplicity as flavor and you might be surprised that some of the tastiest recipes only contain a few ingredients. Mexicans know how to combine spices and seasonings to add maximum flavor to their traditional dishes.

The Best Tips for Authentic Mexican Recipes

Cooking Mexican rice is important to learn because this side dish pairs perfectly with so many Mexican recipes. There are also good tips for making a great Mexican casserole recipe or making delicious Mexican soup. As you make more Mexican recipes, you will discover facts for yourself about how best to use and combine ingredients to give an authentic Mexican taste to your recipes. Sometimes an ingredient might not be available unless you live near a well-stocked Mexican grocery store, in which case learning about substitutions is also important if you want your Mexican food recipes to come out well.

Mexican Cooking Tips Worth Knowing
Mexican Casserole Tips
How to Cook Mexican Rice
Mexican Drinks - How to Make a Margarita

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Mexican Food

A Closer Look at Mexican Food

Even though there are lots of kinds of Mexican food that most of us are familiar with, such as tacos and fajitas, there are also many Mexican food recipes, which you might be unfamiliar with. Have you ever tried Mexican ceviche or a Mexican paella? What about Mexican beef soup or a layered salad recipe? Mexican food varies from region to region, since Mexico is such a huge country. There are parts of Mexico where fish and seafood are eaten more than chicken or beef, and other areas where corn tortillas are far more common than wheat tortillas. The diversity of Mexican cuisine is fascinating and one of the best things about it is the fact that it is so easy to make Mexican food yourself at home.

Exciting Mexican Food Recipes

There is nothing dull about Mexican food at all. There might be some ingredients, which feature in many Mexican food recipes, such as tomatoes, beef, chicken, cheese, sour cream, avocadoes, and corn, but there are other recipes containing none of these. Mexican cuisine has evolved over time and contains Spanish, French, Portuguese, Caribbean, African, and Italian influences, amongst others. This delicious cuisine is heavily focused on using the best quality fresh produce and seasonings to make the most incredibly flavored recipes. Mexican food tends to be nutritious and healthy, as well as flavorful.

Mexican Food - The Evolution of This Tasty Cuisine
A Look at Mexican Food Customs
An Introduction to Mexican Food
The Most Famous Mexican Foods
The Regional Fare of the Many Mexican Regions
A Look at Modern Mexican Food Culture
Mouthwatering Mexican Seafood and Mexican Fish Recipes
Popular Foods of Mexico - A Few Must Try Recipes
Mexico Foods Breakfast Ideas
How to Freeze Mexican Food
Where to Buy Mexican Ingredients
An Interesting Look at Cinco de Mayo Food
The Popularity of Authentic Mexican Salsa Recipes

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Mexican Food Glossary

Mexican Food Glossary - From Achiote to Vino

Sometimes a Mexican recipe might call for an ingredient you have never heard of or a cooking method that you are unfamiliar with. This is why our comprehensive Mexican food glossary is so valuable, because you can look up these ingredients or cooking methods in just a few minutes and then carry on with the recipe you are following. The Mexican food glossary also has a pronunciation guide so you can speak knowledgably to your guests about the delicious food you are serving them without getting any of the Mexican words wrong or mispronouncing them. A good host knows about his or her homemade Mexican food recipes, and you can impress your dinner guests endlessly with a few interesting Mexican food facts.

Learning About Typical Mexican Ingredients

Consulting the Mexican food glossary is not just about learning facts to impress your dinner guests or finding out about ingredient substitutions. You can also use the glossary to learn more about typical Mexican ingredients or to glean ideas and inspiration about future Mexican dishes you want to try making, based on the ingredients in them. Throwing unfamiliar ingredients together haphazardly can result in successful food but knowing some facts about the ingredients you are working with gives you more confidence in the kitchen and this will reflect in your tasty, homemade Mexican meals.

Why a Mexican Food Glossary is Useful
Mexican Food Glossary Mexican Food A - B
Mexican Food Glossary Mexican Food C - E
Mexican Food Glossary Mexican Food F - J
Mexican Food Glossary Mexican Food L - N
Mexican Food Glossary Mexican Food P - Z

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Mexican Herbs and Spices and More

Flavorful Mexican Herbs, Spices, and More

Chili powder might be the first spice to come to mind when you think about Mexican recipes but there are so many more ways to give flavor to your homemade Mexican dishes, as you will discover. Popular spices in Mexican food include cinnamon, coriander, cumin, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, paprika, and chili powder. These can be used as they are or combined to make Mexican spice mixtures and tasty spice blends. You can also use garlic powder or onion powder if you are making quick, easy Mexican recipes, although for an authentic Mexican recipe you will probably want to use fresh garlic and onions.

Using Fresh Herbs in Mexican Cooking

Fresh herbs add color as well as flavor to Mexican food and Mexicans love to use herbs in their recipes. Cilantro is perhaps the most popular herb used in Mexican recipes, followed by oregano. Cilantro, oregano, and parsley are aromatic and can be used in soups, salads, casseroles and more. These fresh herbs are also used for garnish. A dollop of sour cream topped with a sprig of fresh cilantro makes a wonderful garnish for plenty of different Mexican recipes, and some chopped herbs look good sprinkled over a bowl of soup. Epazote is another Mexican herb, although you might need to go to a specialty Mexican grocery store to find that one.

Flavorful Mexican Herbs, Spices, and More
Mexican Spices are Wonderful Seasoning Spices for Mexican Dishes
Mexican Spices - Mexican Cooking Spices
Using Peppers in Mexican Cookery
Different Types of Hot Peppers
How to Make Chili Powder at Home

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Mexican History

A Fascinating Glimpse at Mexican History

Whether you are interested in the history of Mexico in general or a timeline to show how Mexican cuisine has evolved, there is no doubt that food is a big part of Mexican history. There are fascinating tales to be learnt about Mexican food, such as how chimichangas came to be known by that name and the history of enchiladas and how they evolved. As with any other cuisine, if you go back a few centuries there were a lot fewer staples that Mexicans could use to make recipes and this is how many of today's most popular Mexican recipes came into being. Traditional ingredients like corn, chocolate, chicken and tomatoes have been incorporated with newer ones to make today's classic Mexican recipes.

The Evolution of Mexican Food

Some people feel that Mexican food has evolved too much. Because Mexico is so vast, each region has its own popular dishes and there are also a lot of Mexican food recipes enjoyed all over Mexico. The unfortunate thing however is that Mexican food has been changed into something unrecognizable by the fast food industry, which means that many people assume that all Mexicans live on a diet of Taco Bell style food. Nothing could be more untrue and authentic Mexican food is known for its nutritional benefits, its variety, and its ease of preparation, as well as its incredible flavors.

Facts About Mexican History and Mexican Recipes
Mexican Food History - The History of Traditional Mexican Food
The Fascinating History of Enchiladas
A Look at the Cinco de Mayo History
When Did Mexico Gain Independence from Spain
Mexico City - A Vibrant and Fascinating Place
The History of Mexico - The Early Days
Interesting Facts About Mexico
Understanding Cinco de Mayo History
Where Did Salsa Originate and How Did it Evolve
Salsa History and Salsa Facts
Some Famous People from Mexico

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Mexican Holidays

Mexican Holidays and Fantastic Fiesta Food

There is no doubt that eating and drinking are a bit part of Mexican holidays. What would a Mexican fiesta be without vibrantly colored, traditional, and authentic Mexican food recipes? Some Mexican fiesta food is made only during the holidays because these recipes are more fiddly than other Mexican recipes. Tamales are a good example of this. They are delicious but take longer to make that a lot of other Mexican foods, hence they are often made in bulk around fiesta time. It is nice to reserve special recipes for the holidays because it gives people something special to look forward to.

The Best Mexican Recipes for Fiesta Time

The holidays are a time when people like to indulge in their favorite foods and, of course, this varies from person to person. If you are catering for a Cinco de Mayo party or another fiesta, you might like to have a buffet, in which case you can make a variety of traditional Mexican recipes. There are lots of Mexican food recipes, which you can make ahead, such as salsas and salads, so decide on a few make ahead dishes, to give you time to make the other ones. A crockpot chili is another good idea. Make some sweet Mexican recipes for the Mexican holidays too, if you like, such as sweet Mexican bread or fruit-filled empanadas.

Mexican Holidays - A Time to Enjoy Mexican Food
Fun and Hearty Cinco de Mayo Food
Cinco de Mayo Traditions and Facts about Cinco de Mayo
Fun Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas
Mexican Independence Day Food and Celebrations
A Look at Typical Mexican Christmas Food
How to Throw the Best Cinco de Mayo Parties
A Guide to Mexican Food Festivals
Mexico Holidays - How to Celebrate in Style
Fun Activities For Cinco de Mayo
What You Need to Know about Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
Facts About Cinco de Mayo
Colorful and Festive Cinco de Mayo Costumes
Cinco de Mayo Traditions In and Out of Mexico
Fun and Playful Cinco de Mayo Games
Festive and Lively Cinco de Mayo Music
Houston - Cinco De Mayo Tuesday and Events

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Updated: April 17, 2010