Mexican food is loved for its rich flavor and fresh ingredients. However, if you’ve never attempted to cook it at your home, it can be intimidating.
Be assured! You’re in the right place if you aren’t sure what Enchiladas and Fajitas are, or if you can’t distinguish your Tacos from your Burritos.
We will be covering the main ingredients you’ll find at Wee Mexico – Mexican Dundee, along with some popular recipes.
Mexican Food for Beginners
Ingredients used in Mexican Food
Mexican Lime Rice
Mexico is home to rice, a staple in Mexican meals every day. Arroz Rojo, also known by Mexican rice or red rice is the most commonly found type of rice. Enjoy it with a crispy egg and a side dish.
Beans
Beans are a staple in Mexican cuisine and would not be a complete Guide to Mexican Food. The most popular Mexican beans are pinto beans and black beans. These beans can be used to make Frijoles, or refried beans. Mexican stews are also a popular ingredient that includes beans.
Corn
Mexicans are often said to be people of corn. Corn was domesticated in Mexico over 10,000 years ago. Because of its rich history, it has been a cultural symbol and a staple food.
Mexican cuisine has many delicious elements, including tortillas and tamales.
Tortilla Wraps
Tortilla wraps can make Mexican a lot more delicious than it is without them. They are the bearer and the holder for all the delicious things that we will be discussing below.
You need to know two things about them. They can either be made with wheat, corn, or both.
The region in which you live will determine whether the wraps contain corn or wheat. Central and Southern Mexico are made up of corn while Northern Mexico is made up of wheat. This depends on the crop grown locally.
Because they are soft and easy to use (and won’t break), wheat tortillas are popular outside Mexico. Burritos are made from wheat tortillas.
Mexican cuisine has a lot of debate about whether to use corn or wheat. It doesn’t really matter. Both are equally delicious and it is up to you which one you prefer.
Chillies
Chillies are a Mexicna cusine that is a key ingredient. Chillies can bring a lot more flavour to the food, as well as providing heat. Mexican food includes many different types and varieties of chillis.
Mexican favorites
Tacos
The first thing that comes to our minds when we think authentic Mexican food is tacos. Tortillas can be described as the basic bread of Mexican cuisine. Just about anything can be wrapped in tortillas to create a taco. Tacos can also be used for lunch, dinner, and snack. Tacos have survived the test of time and are an integral part Mexican cuisine for centuries.
What is a Taco?
There are two main differences in the various varieties of tacos. The first is the tortilla itself, corn vs. wheat. Corn tortillas can be found most often in the southern region of Mexico. Flour tortillas rule the northern parts of Mexico.
The filling is what makes tacos different. Tacos typically have one filling but you can choose from many fillings.
There have been many vegan tacos made with plant-based foods, much to dismay of conservative Mexican meat-eaters.
The filling can then be topped with a variety taco toppings such as finely chopped cilantro, green serranos, Sliced Cactus or salsa.
Different types of Tacos
We dive deeper into each of the popular tacos in our Guide to Tacos, but here are some highlights.
Carnitas: These are the cheapest versions of carnitas and can be found at street stalls. They’re made with different cuts and cooked in lard with various spices.
Al Pastor is the king among tacos. It’s made with either pork meat, or veal that has been traditionally cooked over coal.
Barbacoa (barbeque tacos), made with various types of meat, cooked on the BBQ with lemon juice or steamed. There are many meat options, including chicken, duck, rabbit and fish.
Burritos
Next, we’ll be discussing burritos on our Guide to Authentic Mexican Food. There are two main differences between burritos and tacos: the size of the tortilla and the number of people who eat them. Tacos are small, open-faced and can take up to four people. A burrito on the other hand has a bigger tortilla and more fillings. One burrito can be enough for a meal.
Burritos can be made from flour tortillas, as corn would not break with the same size tortilla. The ends of the soft flour tortillas are folded inward and then rolled closed. You will find meat, rice, and beans inside.
Fajitas
Fajitas are a reference to the filling. Fajitas used to be made with sizzling steak strips. But now, you can find them with any type of protein. They contain always onions and peppers.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas is next on this guide to Mexican cuisine. Quesadillas is all about the melted cheese. You fill a tortilla with cheese, then toast it on a hot plate until the cheese melts. You can also add chicken, carne asada, or other fillings.
Queso Oaxaca in Mexico is a stringy cheese. Queso Oaxaca may be difficult to find, so we recommend using a good, melting cheese like cheddar, gouda, gruyere.
Nachos
Nachos will be next on our Beginner’s Guide to Mexican Food. Nachos are lightly salted tortilla chip, which is a tortilla that has been cut into triangles then quickly fried. With melted cheese and a selection of toppings. It’s a wonderful dish to entertain, or as a starter.
Chilaquiles, a Mexican staple for breakfast, is very popular in Mexico. These are a kind of breakfast nachos. These are usually made with Salsa Verde. They can be topped with an egg and are definitely worth the effort!
Tostadas
Tostadas use a crunchy, fried flat taco base. Tostadas can be made with refried beans and cheese. Then, you can add any kind of meat, vegetables, or salsa to them. Another variation is the Tuna Tostada, which features tuna ceviche and fried leeks.