BODYBUILDING NUTRITION BASICS

The herbs and spices used in Mexican cuisine are what truly give you the Mexican flavor you are craving. Without these spices, Mexican food would be bland. These herbs and spices bring out the goodness that we have come to expect from Mexican cuisine. If you truly want to make Mexican food, it pays to know about the spices.

Probably the most well known seasoning in Mexico is chile powder. This is made by mixing many different chilies that have been dried and ground. Chilies are also used fresh or roasted. Chipotle is made from jalapeno peppers that have been smoked and dried. Ancho is made from a chile with a sweet, fruity flavor. Many commercial chile powders that are found at the store are made of a combination of chilies, salt, oregano, garlic, coriander, and cumin.

Epazote is used in bean dishes. This tall green herb is also known as Mexican tea. It adds flavor and helps relieve digestive issues that beans can cause. Epazote is potent, so only add a leaf or two to your dishes. Large quantities of epazote can be toxic.

Annatto seeds are used to color food and give it a distinct flavor. This spice is most often used in rice recipes or sauces. The seeds are soaked in water for at least an hour before using. They are usually crushed after soaking. Some recipes use the leftover water that the seeds were soaked in and other recipes use the seeds themselves. They are a common ingredient in marinades.

Cilantro is an herb that looks a lot like flat leaf parsley. In reality, they are the leaves of the coriander plant. Cilantro is always used fresh. The flavor is a bit pungent and it adds a nice tanginess to a recipe. It works well in salsas, rice, beans, moles, stews, and soups. Cilantro brightens up the flavor of many dishes.

Cumin is a spice made from the seeds of the cumin plant. They can be used whole or ground into a powder. Cumin is often used in conjunction with chile powder to create a balance in flavor. It is often used in soups, stews and other common dishes. Azafran is known as Mexican saffron, or safflower. This spice is used in very small amounts because it can be bitter. It causes the dish to develop a beautiful saffron like color and is often used in rice and seafood dishes.

If you study authentic Mexican food recipes you will see these spices used frequently, along with others such as thyme and oregano. In Mexico, they have a unique type of oregano that is earthier in flavor than Italian oregano. You can find this Mexican oregano in some herb catalogs. Unless you live in an area with a large Mexican population, it may be difficult to find it in local nurseries or grocery stores.

Familiarize yourself with the flavors of Mexico by studying the herbs and spices they commonly use in their cooking. You cannot get an authentic flavor without them. Make the most of your Mexican recipes by learning how to use these spices correctly. Your recipes will turn out much better once you understand the nuances of these seasonings.

Mexicans love chilies so much they even use them to flavor their candy and ice cream! Not everything Mexican is spicy though. You can use fresh chilies, dried chilies or even reconstitute dried chilies to make really good Mexican recipes which taste authentic and are bursting with the unmistakable flavor of Mexico.

Christine Szalay-Kudra Uncategorized cooking, diet, Dieting, eating, family, food, food and drink, home, home and garden, lifestyles, mexican food, mexican recipes, mexico, recipes

It should not be a surprise to anyone to hear that the neighboring countries of the United States and Mexico have different cuisines. Nor is it surprising to hear that Mexican food recipes and recipes for traditional American dishes are quite different. What is surprising is that they are different - quite often, countries which border each other have somewhat similar culinary traditions, such as is the case between the US and Canada. So why is it that our food is so different from Mexican food anyway?

Some Mexican Food History

There are two important reasons why Mexican food differs so greatly from the standard fare in the United States. One is historical. Unlike the United States, Mexico spent a much longer time as a Spanish colony than did the US. It is true that parts of the US were originally Spanish territories, though the Spanish colonial period lasted for a much briefer length of time here, with the influence of Spanish cuisine being pronounced mostly in regions, which were once Spanish territory, largely those bordering Mexico.

The US has a different history, being a former British colony with most of its early immigration coming from northern Europe and having different culinary traditions. This alone accounts for some of the divergence of Mexican and American cooking, since traditional Mexican recipes have a profound Spanish influence which is missing from most American cooking.

For a long time, however, immigrants to Mexico from the old world hailed, for the most part, from Spain, leaving an indelible stamp on the new nation’s cuisine. Many Mexican recipes are adaptations of Spanish dishes, with some classic recipes from Spain surviving more or less intact. This led to a distinctive blend of culinary traditions drawn from Spanish and indigenous ingredients and cooking methods.

Mexico has also seen a large number of immigrants arrive from the Levant (especially Syria and Lebanon), adding a few dishes which are now classic Mexican food recipes in their own right such as al pastor. This dish is essentially a Mexican take on the middle eastern shawarma.

Since the US has a much more diverse population, no single nationality’s cuisine ever assumed quite the dominance over American cooking as can be seen in Mexico with Spanish influence. The development of Mexican food is largely the product of two cuisines rather than many melding together over time.

Different Ingredients

The other important factor behind the difference in the cuisines of the two countries is geographical. The Spanish had to adapt to the ingredients, which were available in Mexico, just like the pilgrims learned to cook the local produce in Massachusetts. In Mexico, ingredients like corn, chilies, avocados, pumpkins, tomatoes and others which were new to the conquistadores quickly became staples and were cooked along with old world ones like rice, coriander and olives.

It is this adaptation of European recipes to the ingredients of the new world and the incorporation of Spanish ingredients and techniques into the indigenous cuisine that has made Mexican food the unique cuisine it is today. From Mexican food recipes like pozole to Mexican casserole recipes, tostadas to pumpkin recipes, Mexican food is one of the world’s greatest fusion cuisines that no one thinks of as a fusion cuisine.

Traditional Mexican meals are not difficult to make and you can buy ready roasted peppers and other such ingredients to speed up the cooking process. If you are interested in making dried chilies or canning roasted peppers yourself, these are simple to do as well and they will taste unique and homemade.

Ken Kudra Dieting cooking, diet, Dieting, eating, family, food, food and drink, home, home and garden, lifestyles, mexican food, mexican recipes, mexico, recipes

Mexican cuisine is known for its colorful presentation and healthy qualities. Home to the Aztecs, Mayans and Zapotecs, Mexico developed a strong agricultural civilization early. They grew many foods like avocados, peppers, beans, corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash. They hunted for deer, turkey, rabbit, and quail. Chocolate is grown in Mexico, and was originally served as a drink to Aztec royalty.

Once the Spanish arrived, their cuisine was introduced. Bread, cheese, beef, and cream were added to the native foods. They introduced chickens, sheep and pigs, as well as wheat and sugarcane. By the time Spain gave up ruling Mexico, their influence was well blended with the native cuisine.

A major component of the typical Mexican meal is corn. Masa, or cornmeal, is made into dough that is then used for empanadas, tamales, and tortillas. Corn is also used in stews, soups, and other traditional foods. In northern Mexico, tortillas are usually made of flour instead of corn. Chili peppers also are an important staple in the Mexican diet. They frequently choose jalapeno, Serrano and poblano chilies.

Beans also provide a good source of protein in Mexican meals. Pinto beans are found in the north, while black beans are popular in the Yucatan peninsula. There are many different varieties used throughout Mexico to make dishes like frijoles (refried beans).

Other regional favorites in Mexico include beef in the north, due to the vast grazing lands; coffee and corn stew on the Pacific Coast; and seafood, fish and tropical fruits on the Gulf Coast. Central Mexico has the most Spanish influence due to the fact that this is where most of the Spanish settled. The Yucatan Peninsula is known for its shellfish, seafood, and black beans. Herbs are used all over Mexico.

When making a typical Mexican meal at home, there are many recipes you can try. Mexican chicken enchiladas recipe can be easily replicated at home, and it uses many of the most common ingredients found in Mexico. Once you have tried making them at home, you will see how tasty an authentic Mexican meal can be.

Jump right in and try something new. Maybe you will try a variety of bean you have not tasted before to add a new texture or flavor. Add some simple tortillas and salsa to any meal, or add some seafood to citrus juice and make ceviche on a summer day. Tacos and quesadillas are easy enough for the kids to try.

For something different, try a Mexican breakfast. Mix some tropical fruit in a bowl for an easy meal. Scramble some eggs and salsa for heurvos rancheros. Alternatively, you can top a tortilla with an egg and add some bacon or ham, chilies, tomatoes and cheese. Serve it with some refried beans for a traditional breakfast.

KC Kudra Dieting cooking, diet, Dieting, eating, family, food, food and drink, health, home, home and garden, lifestyles, mexican food, mexican recipes, recipe, recipes