Traditional Food

Posts Tagged ‘Mexican’

Product Description
This wide-ranging compilation encompasses both traditional dishes and exciting new ideas, from simple street favorites, such as Barbeque Jerk Chicken and Quesadillas, to exotic food for more sumptuous feasts, such as a Chilean Seafood Platter and Drunken Duck. An informative introduction celebrates the history and food culture of this diverse and fascinating region, exploring the wealth of ingredients and the methods used in their preparation and cooking. Superbly i… More >>

The Complete Mexican, South American & Caribbean Cookbook

Perhaps you have eaten Mexican food in a top quality Mexican restaurant or even in a Mexican home. If you have, maybe some authentic Mexican cookware or utensils were used to make the dishes. Mexicans use a range of different cooking methods, including baking, slow roasting and deep-frying and they have unique pots and pans for these methods. Mexicans like to use plenty of fresh produce in their cuisine, including spices and herbs, so you will find sharp knives and a mortar and pestle in any Mexican kitchen.

Some Common Mexican Cooking Pots

Ollas, also known as Barros, are deep clay cooking pots. They are perfect for simmering beans, stew or soup and clay is a great medium for cookware because it distributes the heat evenly to avoid burnt spots. Barro means clay or mud and olla means pot. These cooking pots are fine to put over a direct flame all day long.

Clay can be sensitive to temperature changes so you need to warm it gently before using it to prevent it from cracking. One excellent reason for cooking in clay pots is that it gives the food a slightly earthy flavor.

Comals are used in Mexican cookery and these are big, round griddles made from cast iron, clay, or aluminum. Modern ones normally have a non-stick finish and they are used to roast chilies and warm tortillas.

A cazuela is used for simmering mole and other sauces. This is a large, round clay dish, which is between five and seven inches deep. The outside might be painted in bright colors and the inside is glazed. A cazuela has handles so you can put it over an open fire.

A tortillero is a Mexican tortilla press with two wooden discs or round plates. You put a ball of masa between the plates and press down to make a tortilla. These machines used to be wooden but are normally cast iron now. You can get cheap aluminum ones too but these break easily.

Popular Mexican Cooking Utensils

You will find a metate y mano in most Mexican kitchens. This concave dish is the size of a platter and made of stone or rock. It will have three short legs and sit on the table or three long legs so you can sit up to it on a chair. There is a big, round stone, which you roll on the surface to mix together or grind the ingredients.

A molcajete y tejolote is a mortar and pestle, which consists of a small stone, clay, or wooden bowl with an elongated cylinder or the same material, rounded on both ends. The end of the cylinder is used in a circular motion to grind the item in the bowl, to pulverize it.

The Mexicans love hot chocolate and they use a wooden whisk called a molinillo to make the top frothy. The molinillo is spun between the hands and some are plain but others are highly decorated. The molinillo is a small yet fascinating part of Mexican food culture. You can make Mexican food without having the equipment but using it can be fun and it looks good displayed in the kitchen.

Learn how to make the filling of a beef burrito withexpert cooking tips in this free Mexican cuisine video clip. Expert: Andras Glöckl Bio: Andras Glöckl operates the Iguana Bar & Grill. Located in Budapest, it has been voted the Best Mexican Restaurant five years in a row. Filmmaker: Paul Volniansky

Getting the most for your money means you need great deals for the home. Finding wonderful Mexican recipes for those delicious meals translates to a cheaper budget where you feed you and your family healthy recipes that are sure to please. From enchiladas to chimichangas, having the right recipe will make a world of difference.

Are you thinking of finding some Mexican recipes that are delicious but healthy for your whole family? Authentic Mexican food is a delectable addition to any home pleasing young and old alike. Unlike Tex-Mex cuisine, authentic style is not loaded with the copious amount of extra calories, fats, and sugars. Instead, authentic meals are a colorful meal idea with loads of healthy benefits.

Take a look at a few menu items you may want to investigate for your family!

Burritos are always delicious often consisting of a lean meat such as beef, chicken, and even pork. Vegetables are added with brilliant choices to choose from. Instead of just using those green bell peppers, try adding a unique taste as well as color with the brilliantly colorful red and yellow bell peppers.

Of course, many meals consist of flour or corn tortillas. Each type of tortilla has its place when it comes to Mexican recipes of a more authentic nature. One idea, if you have time, is to make your own tortillas with some of the kits on the market today. These kits generally come with a cast iron press and a bag of the appropriate flour to get you started.

Nothing says delicious like fresh, homemade tortillas!

Tacos are wonderful and a favorite for everyone. These are just as varying as anything else that has to do with cuisine from Mexico. In fact, you can make taco makings and let the kids make their own tacos. Definitely a delightful activity for the whole family.

Remember to avoid some of those empty calories; either negate the sour cream or simply go for a fat-free sour cream. Same great taste without all that extra fat that makes sour cream unhealthy.

Enchiladas are just as popular! Add your favorite ingredients, and you will find a dish of homemade enchiladas will become a favorite dish for just about any get together for church or family. There are a lot of thoughts on what makes the best enchilada, but with a little experience, you will find the pattern perfect for you and your family.

Another awesome factor when it comes to wonderful Mexican recipes is the fact garnishes go a long way. Garnish should be colorful with red, greens, or yellows. Regardless of your use of peppers, chilies, or other vegetables, the garnish is a wonderful way to make the presentation that much better.

When it comes to getting the best in Mexican recipes, the internet is a wonderful tool. Keep in mind that just because it is on the internet does not make it instantly perfect. The wonderful thing about this type of healthy cuisine is that you will make the dish better by exploring your own dishes. Soon, you will have a wonderful family tradition passed down through the generations.