As they say, “There is no other sincere love than the love for food” and food is the priority wherever you travel. Everyone has different choices when it comes to food and when you are on a trip to Mexico, you must try all kinds of foods in Mexico. Mexican cuisine is a perfect blend of traditional and modern food whose methods and ingredients can take back you to the first agricultural communities (Olmec and Maya).
There are numerous Mexican food dishes available all over the world however, it feels different when you are trying them in Mexico. You get an opportunity to feel close to the Mexican culture and native people. In this blog, you will be exploring everything about foods in Mexico.
Historical Background
During the pre-historic period, indigenous people of Mexico and North America used to gather wild plants and chili peppers as a part of food. They were not aware of corn and wheat cultivation hence their main source of calories was roasted agave hearts. Later on, Spanish people introduced various dishes to the indigenous Mexican people and they brought new food culture to the country. Today, despite having Spanish influence on their food techniques, Mexican cuisine has maintained its originality in their food dishes in terms of taste. Mexican beverages are famous worldwide and mainly include corn, rice, chocolates, etc.
10 heavenly delicious types of foods in Mexico:
Due to their heavenly delicious taste and amazing recipes, Mexican foods are tried in many kitchens all over the world. These dishes of food in Mexico are completely irresistible as they are prepared with the exclusive style of indigenous Mexican people. Take a look here:
1. Tacos Al Pastor
If you want to taste a legendary taco made with shawarma-inspired spit-roasted pork then you must eat Tacos Al Pastor. It is one of the most iconic foods in Mexico that tastes juicy and has a meaty concoction which turns the dish into a trademark of Mexican Street Food. While taking a tour in the Mexican City, it is guaranteed you will end up testing Tacos Al Pastor at least once.
2. Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican dish served as breakfast. It features a topping of green or red salsa and lightly fried corn tortillas cut into quarters. The dish was introduced by the Spanish Cook Encarnacion Pinedo in 1898 and today it has become part of the historical legacy of Mexico. You will find refried beans or frijoles along with Chilaquiles. Scrambled or fried eggs along with pulled chicken are served as a side dish. You will easily notice such a variety of foods in Mexico that you can eat as evening snacks.
3. Chiles en nogada
Chiles en nogada are one of the patriotic foods in Mexico as they boast green, white, and red colors of the National Flag of the country. All the prominent restaurants in Mexico and North America serve this dish for lunch as well as dinner. Picadillo in the dish is a mixture of chopped meat, fruits, and spices. Its cream sauce cooked with walnuts and a topping of pomegranate seeds adds extra taste to the dish. It is a popular traditional Mexican food from the Puebla region.
4. Chapulines
When you have cravings for a crunchy, smokey snack then Chapulines is the right dish for you. You may find it worth trying this just for the sake of a change in taste. Chapulines are rich in protein and the addition of freshly made potato chips adds extra crunchiness to the dish. They are seasoned and toasted grasshoppers that are caught by farmers from Oaxaca in the summer. Chapulins are served with guacamole and some corn tortillas which is a perfect combination for evening cravings.
5. Tostadas
Fried Tostadas spread the smell all over the house and attract your kids to the kitchen immediately. This is one of the favorite foods in Mexico for children that can be served alone or piled high with several garnishes. You can add one layer of frijoles (refried beans), cheese, cooked meat, seafood, etc to make it look delicious. Do you know the word ‘tortilla’ came from ‘torta’, a Spanish word that means ‘round cake.’
According to Mayan legend, tortillas were cooked by a farmer during ancient times to feed his hungry king.
6. Tamales
Tamales are one of the most ancient foods in Mexico that date back to the period of Inca, Mayan, and Aztec tribes. It was developed to eat during the war expeditions. You can try Tamales with the usual flavoring including cumin, oregano, thyme, different peppers, and garlic powder. This Mexican delight can be enjoyed with fruits, vegetables, and peppers. The exact process to cook Tamales is stuffing corn dough with sweet filling, wrapping it in corn husks or banana leaves, and steaming it for a few minutes.
7. Elote
Elote is one of the mouth-watering foods in Mexico that should be tasted when you are hungry. Indians can relate this dish to their favorite ‘Bhutta’ from the rainy season with some cheesy and pepper twist. You can add salt, chilly powder, cheese, butter, mayonnaise sauce, etc to make it taste bitter and spicy at the same time. Its cooking process includes boiling corn and serving them in cups or on a stick. You will notice this item on Mexican Beaches and North American Islands.
8. Mole
Chiles are the most common ingredient you will find in Mole and other ingredients vary according to the place. Modern moles include chocolate, additional spices, nuts, seeds, garlic, onions, cinnamon, etc. Mole poblano is the well-known mole which is a rusty red sauce typically served over turkey or chicken on special occasions like Thanksgiving. Furthermore, you can try it with coriander rice which counts as a healthy lunch for you.
9. Guacamayas
Usually, sandwiches are in high demand throughout Mexico and delicious guacamaya is the best example. It is sold by street vendors and you will find it in almost every restaurant in the Mexican City. Guacamayas are originated from León, Guanajuato. Pork cracklings, a spicy sauce tastes good with this dish and a squirt of lime juice is a must-try along with it. You can grab a few pieces of Guacamayas when you are in a picnic mood with your friends and family, they last for a longer time.
10. Cemitas
Cemitas has its origins in Puebla, Mexico and it is also known as cemita poblano. It can be served as a sandwich as well as a roll so you can have it as breakfast or as lunch also. In the category of junk foods, Cemitas are the most delicious foods in Mexico that you can enjoy. In the region of Puebla, Cemitas are generally served cold, however, in the United States, they are toasted on a griddle and served warm. They are cooked with meat, white cheese, avocado, and pápalo leaves.
This is just a short list of foods in Mexico that you can have when you are hungry. However, there are dozens of more food dishes you should not miss while traveling to Mexico. They represent the indigenous culture of it starting from the first agricultural community in the country. Tasting and enjoying some of the fine foods in Mexico at ports or on the beach will make your vacation more interesting and memorable. Your family and friends will be talking about it for months while looking at the pictures you click while eating it.
