Traditional Meals in Mexico

Traditional Meals in Mexico

The Mexican dishes are very diverse and extremely delicious. The

influence of the Spanish and Indian cultures can be felt in them. The roots

of the Mexican cuisine go right into the depth of the Indian Maya and Aztec

cultures. It is the Mayas and the Aztecs who have made the Spanish

conquistadors aware of tomatoes, avocados, peanuts, squash (vegetable

marrows), sweet and white potatoes, pineapples, papaya, vanilla, cocoa,

certain string bean and Chili pepper varieties.

One good turn deserves another: the Spaniards have brought cattle,

sheep, chickens, wheat, rice, nuts, oil, garlic, cinnamon, some other

spices and fruit to the Americas. The missioner nuns living in Mexico were

entrusted the responsibility for the development and distribution of new

dishes. For their cooking they used the ingredients typical of the Indian

as well as Spanish cuisine.

Step by step the Mexican cuisine was winning its ever increasing

popularity, and the Latin American - Indian cooks were adapting their

traditional meals to the European palate and the European-origin

ingredients. The Mexican cuisine is characterized with the ingredients and

dishes that have already become classics: Chili pepper, tortillas, tacos,

rice and string beans. And it is undoubtedly tequila that rates first among

the spirits!

It goes without saying that the only word describing the Mexican

Cuisine is chili, and especially chili peppers. It makes no difference are

they either unbroken or cut into pieces, either pickled or fresh, either

tinned or dried, chili peppers are integral part of the Mexican dishes.

Chili seasoning is a clue to understanding of unique taste of the

Mexican cuisine.

Mexican legend about chili says that it protects from cold and

malaria, is good for digestion, cleanses blood and raises immunity.

Tortilla substitutes for bread in Mexico. It may be fried, baked,

sauced or with different fillings (for example, with jelly). You may also

eat it in itself. Tortilla is often used for tacos.

Taco is the most popular appetizer in Mexico. The principal ingredient

is a crisp corn cake, fried in the form of U. Taco shells as a rule are

filled with meat and seasoning or with string bean. Then it is topped with

cut lettuce, onion, tomatoes and grated cheese. All this is enriched with

red or green chili sauce. Variants of cooking taco sauce are endless. Taco

sauce cooked of tomatoes, onion, chili pepper, garlic and other seasoning

creates a unique taste of the Mexican cuisine.

Rice and string beans is considered to be the most traditional Mexican

garnish.

String beans usually are kneaded or whipped to fill taco. As a garnish

string beans may be served in whole. Fried string beans are a string beans

mash, fried in oil.

Rice is another popular garnish for majority of the Mexican dishes.

“Mexican rice” may be cooked by different ways. Every Mexican family has

its own recipe, inherited from the ancestors.

It goes without saying that Tequila is the most popular Mexican strong

drink. A half of lemon segment and a saucer with salt is served for pure

tequila. The lemon is put between thumb and forefinger. A pinch of salt is

put on joint of thumb. At first you take a little salt, then you take a sip

of tequila and in the end you take the lemon.

One of the favorite drinks made of tequila is Margarita, prepared on

the basis of lemon. It is served in cold goblet. Brims of the goblet should

be sprinkled with salt. Cocktail “Daiquiri” may be alternative of

“Margarita”. This drink is usually served almost frozen.

Besides, liqueur with a smell of coffee is very spread in Mexico. It

is also popular both in cocktails and in desserts.