Foods of Mexico

Corn, or maíz, in Spanish, has been an essential part of the Mexican diet since well-before the Spanish arrived to the Americas.

Corn is used to make tortillas, taco shells, and doughs used in Mexican cooking.

For centuries,the women of the family have gathered to make tortillas together.

Even today, in modern times, hand-made tortillas are a tradition and are prized.

Tortillas are used to make enchiladas. These are meat, cheese, or vegetables, wrapped in tortillas, with sauce and cheese on top.

Las cenas

A tomato-based red sauce commonly tops enchiladas rojas.

Mole is a popular sauce for enchiladas or meat dishes that is made of chili peppers, tomatoes, spices, and chocolate. It has an unusual, but delicious, spicy-sweet taste.

Enchiladas verdes have a green sauce that is made of tomatoes, serrano peppers, and sour cream.

Carne asada is a roasted meat dish in which the steak is rubbed with seasonings prior to roasting.

Chiles rellenos is a stuffed pepper dish. It consists of roasted fresh poblano peppers and they are stuffed with melted cheese or meat and is covered in an egg batter or corn dough or masa, then fried.

Tamales are made of a starchy dough called masa, which is steamed or boiled, then wrapped in leaf paper or corn husks. The wrapping is not eaten.

Tamales can be filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, peppers, or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.

Torta ahogada or drowned sandwich in English, is a meat sandwich which rests in a bowl of soup. It is an excellent “comfort food.”

Guacamole is a dip made from avocados, lime juice, onions, peppers and salt.

Pozole is a hearty soup made with corn, meat, pork, chicken, turkey, pork rinds, chili pepper, and other seasonings and garnishes.Las sopas

Menudo is another hearty soup made of tripe, hominy and chili, and is stewed for hours with garlic and other spices. The broth is rich and red.

Sopa azteca varies from region to region and different peppers are used in different versions. This tomato-based soup is richly flavored with garlic, onions and avocado, tortilla chips and chicken.

Los postresFlan is a custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top.

Pastel de tres leches is a moist, dense cake that includes three different types of milks.

Enchiladas can also be a dessert when filled with fruit, chocolate, or other sweet fillings.

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