Favorite Mexican Foods

How to Order in a Mexican Restaurant

Dec 15, 2008 DeLene Sholes

Ordering food in a Mexican restaurant can be confusing, especially for those who don't read or speak Spanish. No need to limit oneself to chips and dip.

Learn about a few Mexican staples, then find out how these staples are used to make the Mexican dishes that are so popular.

Mexican Cuisine Staples

Tortillas made with flour, a little shortening and water have many uses in Mexican cooking. Bits of cheese, meat, poultry, and vegetables are rolled in or stacked on these versatile flat round pieces of bread. There are two basic kinds of tortillas; corn and flour. Corn tortillas are made with a special flour called masa harina. Flour tortillas are made with regular flour, a little salt, baking powder, shortening and water.

Red or green? This is a question that a waiter may ask if someone orders enchiladas or huevos rancheros. In New Mexico the question refers to the color of chile sauce that someone prefers. Each kind of sauce (colored red or green) made from chile peppers, has a distinct flavor. If a diner wants both, the answer is "Christmas." Chiles are also used to add flavor to meats, and vegetables, and some are stuffed with cheese and fried.

Guacamole is another kind of sauce made from avocados and onion, tomato, garlic, chiles, and lemon juice. This delectable sauce is used for dipping corn chips, on nachos or salads. While it's tempting to use a processor to mash guacamole, the best guacamole has a few chunks of avocado because it was mashed with a fork by hand.

Other staples in Mexican cooking are rice and beans. Refried beans (frijoles refritos) are served with many Mexican meals. Frijoles refritos are regular pinto beans that have been cooked and mashed, then fried again in a little oil. Rice may be flavored with onion, bell papper, tomatoes, and chile powder.

Here are some popular Mexican dishes and their descriptions:

  • enchiladas - Corn tortillas spread with bits of meat, cheese, or vegetables and rolled into a tube then covered with red or green sauce. Somestimes they are served in stacks like pancakes.
  • huevos rancheros - Eggs served on corn tortillas with red or green sauce, cheese, and onions
  • flautas - Corn tortillas filled with meat, rolled into flutes or tubes, and fried crisp
  • tamales - Corn husks layered with a thick masa harina mixture and meat or chicken seasoned with chile pepper. Filled tamales are rolled, tied, and steamed.
  • burrito - A flour tortilla filled with meat, eggs, or beans, and sauce
  • posole - A stew made with dried corn kernels or hominy, seasonings, and meat.
  • taco - A tortilla stuffed with meat and topped with sauce, lettuce and cheese
  • chalupas - Fried corn tortillas topped with meat, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, olives, onions, and sour cream
  • flan - A dessert similar to creme brulee made with eggs, milk, sugar, and flavoring.
  • quesadillos - A tortilla spread with cheese, onions, meat, or vegetables topped with a second tortilla and baked
  • sopaipillos - A delectable kind of bread that is rolled and fried. The dough forms a hollow pillow that is punctured and filled with honey.

Once the novice knows the basics of Mexican cuisine, he can visit his favorite Mexican restaurant and order with confidence. Tacos and corn chips are great, but the best Mexican restaurants offer much more! Enjoy exploring the dishes listed above and don't be afraid to order something new, like chiles rellenos (chiles stuffed with cheese) or carne adovada.

The copyright of the article Favorite Mexican Foods in Latin/Caribbean Cuisine is owned by DeLene Sholes. Permission to republish Favorite Mexican Foods in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Typical Mexican Dinner, Joel Jaimez Typical Mexican Dinner
   
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