Feisty, vibrant and mysterious - these words define the land of Mexico. A mix of ethnic varieties and a vibrant history gives it a unique culinary culture. Mexico's cuisine has been blessed with numerous influences, ranging from the early civilization of the Aztecs and Mayas to modern European.
Mexico embarked on its food journey with simple native elements like peanuts, vanilla, beans, coconuts, tomatoes and chilli peppers. With time, Europeans added meats such as beef, pork, chicken, and goat, and cheese to the basket. Mexican food has been dreaded by some as being overly spicy because of the flamboyant use of chillies. It is true no one celebrates their chillies like Mexico does. Each of them varies in taste, shape, and flavour. Some of the most commonly used chillies are Serrano, Ancho, and Jalapeno. Chipotle pepper, which is the key ingredient of Tabasco sauce, is a dried version of juicy Jalapenos.
Herbs and spices are the real stars of the show. Often it is the sauce and condiments that define a dish, such as the 'Mole Poblano', which gets its name from the glossy dark sauce to be savoured with turkey or chicken.
Despite alternatives like rice and wheat, corn finds a special place among Mexican staples. Most popular Mexican dishes involve the use of crusts or breads. 'Masa', the corn flour dough is used to create Tortillas, Quesadillas, Enchiladas, Burritos and Tamales. Kidney beans appear significantly in the traditional recipes like Chilli Con Carne or refried beans.
Keeping up with the geographical diversity of Mexico, culinary tastes vary across the length and breadth of the country. Northern Mexico is famous for the dominance of meat on the menu, while the dishes from South feature veggies and chicken with prominent Caribbean influences. Flanked by the sea on both sides, Mexico is interspersed with rivers, which leads to the easy availability of freshwater fish to be used in delicious Mexican preparations. The Red Snapper Veracruz is one of the most versatile dishes, which has kept its fans fascinated globally. The freshness of herbs and the rustic flavour of the spices, adds depth to the taste.
Mexican cuisine also flaunts a variety of desserts, the simplest being the Flan. Flan is a buttery custard with a layer of caramel on top. Another Mexican treat is the Empanada. These are folded pieces of dough, stuffed with cream, pumpkin or fruits, which are baked or fried till crisp. Dulce is another example of a simple yet brilliant dessert, which refers to a bread pudding with fresh fruits.