Mexican food is a strong contender as one of the most popular foods in the world with Mexican restaurants found in plenty of major cities. The cuisine with its reputation for flavoursome food has even been highlighted by UNESCO on the cultural heritage list and fuses delicious ingredients with generous lashings of spice, flavourings and of course those hot little jalapenos to give your meal a kick.
Ingredients that are vastly used in Mexican food include rice, beans, peppers and of course corn which is used to make tortillas, tamales and gorditas. Spices such as chilli powder, oregano and cinnamon and plenty of garlic and onion are used to create the rich Mexican taste.
Some of our favourite Mexican dishes include Tacos, Burritos, Fajitas, Nachos and Chimichangas each with plenty of cheese, salsa, jalapenos and sour cream to take the edge off. Whilst you will still find these dishes in Mexico, interestingly, they are quite unlike the real Mexican versions. Due to the vast size of the country, the cuisine varies from region to region and you may be surprised at some of the dishes found on the regional menus….
For starters, in the western mountainous region, Goat Birria features quite predominantly on the menu which is goat meat cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. In Yucatan, the food is sweeter thanks to the use of Achiote seasoning. A popular dish which features Achiote seasoning is Cochinita Pibil. The Oaxacan region serves savoury tamales as its staple dish in addition to moles. Tlayudas are a bit more familiar, and are similar to an unwrapped burrito. Central Mexico delivers a blend of everything from the surrounding regions but it also has some of its own delicious dishes up its sleeve such as Pozole stew.
The villages will serve up just about anything with ingredient lists featuring rattlesnakes, ant eggs and various insects like grasshoppers as well as iguana and spider monkeys. (Maybe best avoided for those with a weak stomach!)
If you love Mexican food, consider a Mexican cooking holiday and show your friends back at home what real Mexican cuisine is like (minus the insects!). Courses are available in various locations all over the country like Puebla, San Miguel de Allende and many more. Not only a great way to see the colours and culture of Mexico, it’s the perfect excuse to indulge in fantastic food along the way!
