"Real" or "authentic" Mexican cuisine might not be what you
thought it is. Mexican food varies according to regions in
Mexico and is an amazing mixture of Old World and New World
ingredients, sometimes adhering closely to Mayan or Aztec
styles, and often mutating with Spanish, Portuguese, and
other later cultural influences. Take a tour through this
culinary introduction to how to cook real Mexican food.
!! Steps !!
Note the principal fresh ingredients involved in real Mexican
cooking. First, fresh is important because the freshness gives
Mexican food its vitality and interest. Second, the following
ingredients are fairly staple Mexican inclusions, although it is
very important to recognize that the uses for ingredients and food
dishes will vary from region to region:
Corn - used for a variety of food including tortillas, quesadillas,
tamales, chimichangas, soups, etc.
Chiles and peppers - with over 100 varieties of chiles, there are
plenty of uses in Mexican cuisine, from mild to hot, including as a
spice for salsa.
* Tomatillos are not tomatoes; they are a different fruit
Tomatoes - used in a wide variety of dishes. In addition,
tomatillos are used a lot. These are not small tomatoes but a
fruit in their own right, used in sauces and dishes.
Cilantro (coriander) - a fairly typical herb flavor added to
numerous Mexican dishes. In the Yucutan peninsula, anatto (achiote)
is a popular spice, and it is from here that a sauce made from the
hottest chillies (habaneros) is made (Ixni-pec).
* Pinto beans Beans, usually kidney, haricot, black, or
pinto beans. Frijoles (beans) are a Mexican staple, often served
with a little cooking liquid, or mashed or fried with oil or lard
and served as "refritos". Haricot and pinto beans are native to
Mexico. Lima beans (Peru) and garbanzos (chickpeas) are also
popular.
Fruit, including peaches, pawpaws, avocados, pineapples, and
coconuts. Naturally, avocado is essential for the well-known
guacamole.
* Chorizo Meats such as goat, chicken, pork, lamb, and
beef. Chorizo, a seasoned sausage, is used a lot in Mexican
cuisine.
Find a good source of Mexican cooking ideas. Some cookbooks that
claim to teach you traditional Mexican food are suggesting deviated
variants or even Tex-Mex. A definitive reference cookbook for the US
audience is _Authentic Mexican_ by Rick Bayless. When deciding on
buying or borrowing a Mexican cookbook, check that the cookbook has
made a decent attempt to explain regional cuisines differences, and
does not have an excessive focus on "easy-out" options or focuses on
using too much dairy throughout the book. The same qualifications
apply to finding suitable recipes online.
* If you can read Spanish, order cookbooks direct from Mexico, or
read Mexican recipe sites and recipe blogs. Some bloggers may even
translate their dishes into English; indeed, there are many
Anglophones who have lived or traveled in Mexico, and who love to
share their favorite Mexican recipes online.
Use spices judiciously. Mexican food is, of course, not always
heavily spiced or piquant, but chiles are a common ingredient. They
may be raw, smoked, or dried, but are seldom used in their powdered
form. Cayenne chili, commonly found in a dried form, is not
frequently used in Mexican cooking (cayenne chiles are actually
quite hot). Nearly all chiles can be eaten green and are hotter
green than their red or yellow counterparts. Jalapeño chiles -
particularly those sold these days - are some of the mildest "hot"
chiles around. Some ways for using chiles in Mexican cuisine
include:
* Make chiles rellenos (stuffed peppers).
* Make ferchirajas.
Avoid using canned beans. This could be taken more generally: avoid
using canned foods whenever possible. Cooking dried beans allows you
to introduce some flavor into the cooking liquid, and canned beans
are often heavily salted. Spices vary from region to region and dish
to dish, but with beans, you could safely include sauteed onions and
garlic, bay, Mexican oregano, and various forms of fresh and cured
pork.
* Bean dishes include refried beans, frijoles negros, green lima
bean salad, etc.
* Make black bean salsa.
* Make traditional Mexican rice to accompany the beans.
Make some corn dishes. Corn is used extensively in Mexican cuisine
and there are many ways that you can use it at home. Look for masa
harina (flour made from grinding dried corn kernels) which serves as
the basis of tortillas, tamales, baked goods, and atole. Here are
some suggested recipes to get you started:
* Make tortillas or Make corn tortillas. If you cannot find corn
flour, use wheat flour (traditional in the area bordering with
Texas, where corn does not grow well): Make flour tortillas.
* Make tortilla soup. This is a traditional, delicious Mexican soup.
* Make hot tamales.
* Make enchiladas.
* Make a chicken chimichanga (substitute corn flour for the wheat
flour suggested).
Try some traditional Mexican soup dishes. Traditional Mexican soup
dishes include corn soup, tortilla soup, tomato soup (use fresh
tomatoes and coriander), vermicelli soup, avocado soup, etc.
Red snapper Veracruz style Make fish and seafood dishes. Real
Mexican cooking makes the most of fish and shellfish, including red
snapper, sea bass, mackerel, striped bass, and prawns. The Mexican
dish Huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper Veracruz style) is a
national signature dish. Ceviche, dried salt cod, and Spanish and
Portuguese fish dishes are also very popular in Mexico.
* How to Prepare Snapper.
Mole poblano Cook using meat and poultry. There is a wide variety of
traditional meat dish choices in Mexican cuisine, including turkey,
quail, pheasant, chicken, etc. Many meat dishes blend old culture
with new cuisine. One of the most traditional dishes is Mole Poblano
de Guajolote, which is based on turkey. Some ideas to help you get
started:
* Make Mexican beef and beans.
* Make chicken mole. See also how to make mole sauce.
Make salsa! Salsa is a popular Mexican accompaniment, including
salsa chipotle, salsa verde, and green jalapeño salsa. You can find
a range of salsa recipes in wikiHow's Salsa page.
Try some traditional Mexican baking. Baking is an important part of
Mexican cuisine, including desserts and cakes. Some ideas to start
you include:
* Make Mexican polvorones.
* Make churros.
* Make sopaipillas.
* Make coffee flan.
* Make arroz con leche.
Make or purchase Mexican drinks. To complete your Mexican meal, add
some drinks. You can purchase Mexican beer, Mexican wine, tequila,
or try making:
* Horchata
* Milk coffee.
* Margaritas.
* Sangria or sangrita.
* Tequila cocktails (not all authentic of course but in the spirit
of tequila!).
* Mexican hot chocolate.
* Tamarind or rosella drinks.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Do not fear lard. It is a traditional inclusion in Mexican
cooking.
* Buy fresh ingredients whenever possible.
* Buy whole spices (such as cumin seeds) and grind them in a clean
coffee grinder before you use them.
* Cactus pieces also form an important part of Mexican cuisine but
may be hard to get hold of in some places. They can be found
canned or pickled in specialty grocery stores.
* Whatever you do, do not add Cheddar to tacos or tostadas. Using
Cheddar in a taco is no-sense in Mexico. Use "Queso Fresco"/"Fresh
Cheese" or "Queso Asadero". Here you can find a guide for Mexican
Cheeses: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/mexicancheeses.htm
!! Warnings !!
* For every good Mexican restaurant in most cities in the U.S.,
there will be many mediocre ones. Family operated restaurants are
generally your best bet.
* If it's not sold refrigerated, it's adulterated lard.
Manufacturers hydrogenate and add potentially carcinogenic
chemicals to lard so that it will keep unrefrigerated. Find a
source or render your own from pork (not bacon) fat.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Mexican cookbooks, recipe sites
* Fresh ingredients
* Specialty grocery store for imported items
* Mexican table furnishings and decorations (optional)
* Mexican music on your MP3 player (optional)
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Make Chicken Mole
* How to Make Original Mexican Tacos
* How to Make a Tostada
* How to Make Authentic Mexican Guacamole
* How to Make a Pico de Gallo Salsa
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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