Aguas Frescas
Mexican Style Soft Drinks
Beat the summer heat with these refreshing and healthy Mexican fruit drinks. Soft drinks are a main culprit in the rise of obesity and a major contributor to the plastic waste in our world, so we should be concerned about our intake of these drinks. Some soft drinks in Mexico contain real cane sugar instead...
Recipes: Horchata
Mexican Rice Milk
Here are two delicious recipes for horchata. The first is a more traditional recipe, the second is a non-dairy version. Enjoy! Agua de horchata 1 cup raw rice 1 ½ cup hot water 1 whole piece of Mexican cinnamon about 4 inches long (or to taste) 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 3 cups skim milk...
La Cocina Mexicana
Tools for the Mexican Foodie
When I first stepped foot into my new, fully equipped kitchen in Mexico, I found myself wondering “what the heck is this stuff?” – a surprise for me, having years of experience working in kitchens. After living in Mexico and serving Mexican- international fusion food, I’ve come to love these Mexican tools. For anyone interested...
Recipe: Roasted Salsa Verde made in the molcajete
Ingredients: 7-10 tomatillos, rinsed. Keep the husks on (but if you bought them with the husks off, it’s ok too) 1-2 jalapeños 1 clove garlic salt, to taste Directions: Roast the tomatillos and chiles. This can be done stove-top, using a comal or griddle, or in the oven. When the tomatillo husks are blackened...
Healthy Mexican Food
The temptation of incredibly tasty tacos, hamburgers, and enchiladas is daunting – Mexican street food is so uniquely satisfying and sabroso (yummy) that it is hard to say “no.” Taste aside, street food in Mexico can add to the waistline, quickly. For those living in Mexico or traveling for an extended period of time, it...
The Indigenous Ingredients
Cooks in Mexico still rely on the ingredients which were popular before the Spanish conquest… Corn, beans and squash: The Aztec Trio. Traditional Mexican food is heavy in these three main ingredients. Combined with hunted game meats, such as deer or rabbit, the vegetable and grain trio made for an incredibly healthy diet. Corn, beans,...
Recipe: Bean and Squash Blossom Quesadillas
The combination of corn tortillas, squash blossoms, and beans is a great way to enjoy the Aztec trio. When possible, purchase or make corn tortillas made from freshly ground corn. In most areas of Mexico there is usually a señora in each neighborhood or village that will sell fresh, handmade tortillas by the dozen. This...
Recipe: Shredded Chicken Tacos
Ingredients Two chicken breasts, grilled or boiled until cooked 1/2 cup natural yogurt (no sugar) 12 small corn tortillas Condiments: Choose one or more of the below to dress up your tacos for an authentic Mexican treat! Escapeche – pickled hot peppers and vegetables (including carrots, onions, potatoes, and cauliflower), a common condiment found on...
Shopping in Mexico’s Markets
Discover the "underlying elegance" among the chaos of a Mexican mercado
Mexican markets can be crowded, loud, hot, and confusing. Shoppers expect low tarp ceilings, uneven floors, and obstructions. Unusual smells and noises are distracting while shoppers dodge dogs and toddlers underfoot. At first glance a market may appear overwhelming… The seeming chaos is masking the underlying elegance of the Mexican market: a place to buy...
Dulce
Desserts in the Latin American Tradition
Excerpts from the book , by Joseluis Flores, with Laura Zimmerman Maye: Cajeta Cajeta is a goat’s milk caramel similar to dulce de leche (cow’s milk-caramel originally from Argentina) or manjar blanco (what they call dulce de leche in Peru). In Mexico, it is traditionally sold in small, thin wooden boxes, or cajas, on the...
Fermented Drinks
Tepache & Pulque
Looking for a break from the normal cerveza (beer)? Mexico has a long tradition of fermenting alcoholic beverages. The two most notable drinks are tepache and pulque. Tepache is a mildly alcoholic pineapple wine that can be made with just a few ingredients and a little patience in any home. Pulque, requiring slightly more work,...
Recipe: Nopal Pico de Gallo
This is a fantastic raw salsa (salsa cruda) to serve with beans and rice, tacos, or on top of grilled fish: Ingredients 2 small prickly-pear (nopal) pads, chopped into 1 cm cubes (1/2 inch cubes) 1 ripe Roma tomato (or any nice red tomato), chopped into 1 cm cubes. 1⁄2 red onion, diced – 1⁄2...
