Food

Mexico has some very rich and tasty foods. Mexicans use spices and combine ingredients to get such great tasting foods. However, Mexico is not only known for its spicy, salty dishes. Did you know that chocolate originally came from Mexico?

When the Spanish first came they found Montezuma enjoying a drink made from vanilla and chocolate, and sweetened with honey. Vanilla is a substance that comes from the food-pod of a certain species of Mexican orchid, and chocolate comes from the fruit of the Mexican cacao tree.

You could say that corn and beans are the two main foods of indigenous Mexicans, and much of Mexican cuisine is based on these two ingredients. Corn and beans are very important parts of people's diets because they give us protein. Rice is also an important part of Mexican food.

During the 1520's, the Spaniards imported into Mexico plants and animals that no Mexican had ever seen. These included horses, cattle, chickens, pigs, goats, and sheep. Among these things that were introduced were olive oil, cinnamon, parsley, coriander, oregano, and black pepper. The Spaniards also introduced nuts and grains such as rice, almonds, wheat, and barley; and fruit and vegetables such as apples, oranges, lettuce, grapes, carrots, cauliflowers, potatoes (these were brought from Peru), and sugarcane (which is used to make sugar).

Quesadillas are one of the main dishes of Mexico and can be found in many street stands. This dish is a combination of the Native American and Spanish traditions. The corn tortilla on which quesadillas are based is native American; the cheese, as well as the pork, and/or beef that goes with the cheese, is the Spanish; of the garnish, the hot-sauce made with chili peppers is native to Mexico, but the shredded lettuce is Spanish.

Some other classic Mexican dishes from the colonial period includes Lomo en adobo (pork loin in a spicy sauce), chiles rellenos (chilies stuffed with cheese, beef or pork), guacamole (avocado, tomato, onion, chili and coriander), and escabeche (marinades). Mole (pronounced MOHL-leh) is a very rich, thick sauce made from several kinds of pepper and a lot of different seasonings, some recipes have over a hundred different things. The prime ingredients are sesame and anise seed, ground peanuts, cinnamon, salt, black pepper, sugar, garlic, onion, clove, coriander, tortilla, wheat bread, tomato, raisins, lard, pieces of pork, and of course chocolate, the native Mexican invention, so as strange as it sounds, it is included.

Today however, Mexico's cuisine is becoming modernized and many people are changing their diets. Instead of eating tortillas, many people are eating white bread. The classic drinks, licuados of papaya or orange are being replaced by soda, like Coke and Pepsi. There is also a growing number of Mexicans that don't eat a lot of spicy food or chili peppers. Hamburgers and fried chicken are becoming popular. Hopefully the authentic and delicious Mexican dishes will remain a big part of the Mexican culture.

To make one of these Mexican dishes click on the name below for the recipe.

Guacamole

Tacos

Deadbread

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