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.