Mexico is mostly renowned for tacos, but… not many know that there’s a whole world of options out there?
You see, Mexican gastronomy was declared “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO, and that means more food than just meat-filled tortillas!
Here’s a brief list containing the ABC’s for a true Mexican diet!
Chilaquiles
Next morning after your arrival, you’ll have these at your breakfast buffet for sure.Chilaquiles are slightly fried tortilla chips poured with green or red tomato sauce, with some cream and cheese on top. If you want, you can have yours with fried eggs or shredded chicken too; it really highlights the flavor and works for a more complete breakfast!
Original Image: “Chilaquiles” by Masa Assassin, used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license, via Flickr.Pozole
Before you even try to guess what you can get from the name, you should know thatpozole is an ancient dish dates back to pre-Hispanics days when it was used for ritual sacrifices according to anthropologists. Nowadays, there’s even a vegan version of it, so that lessens the creepy factor a bit. It’s a soup made from hominy corn with plenty of herbs and spices, then it gets stewed for hours, and once it’s ready to serve, you can sprinkle some lettuce, radish, onion, cilantro or (if you’re brave enough) some chili on top too!
Original Image: “Pozole Rojo with Pork” by James, used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, via Flickr.Tostadas
We are definitely not done with tortillas yet! And this time they are deep fried to get a good crunchy, golden color. Then it can be piled up with lots of toppings like refried beans, seafood, pork, chicken, lettuce, and many other edible garnishes. A Mexican “pizza” if you will!
Original Image: “Mexican tostadas” by David Boté Estrada, used under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.Enchiladas
These remain a Mexican favorite among many, because not only are they a great option for breakfast but for lunch time too! Enchiladas are corn or flour tortillas filled with meat, cheese, vegetables and other type of fillings, then covered with chili sauce, don’t worry, you can get a non-spicy sauce if you want to!
Original Image: “Enchiladas” by Rogelio Portillo Seguir, used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, via Flickr.Mole
Take a small peek at any of these rich Mexican sauce ingredients list and you’ll know why it’s one of Mexico’s finest! With a staggering number of 20+ ingredients, there are many types of mole, and they are all made from different kinds of spices and chili peppers. The most famous one is Mole Poblano, a rusty red sauce usually served over a turkey or a chicken.
Original Image: “Chicken Mole” by Adam Freidin, used under CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, each Mexican state has its own personal touch and original take on various recipes for traditional dishes, so should you ever come to pay a visit, you’re in for a very delicious treat!
By Daniel Juárez for Mexico News Network
Source: http://www.mexiconewsnetwork.com/gastronomy/must-try-foods-mexico/
