Mexican gastronomy musts
Taco al pastor
Origins: Mexico City
Main ingredient: Pork
Elected best food in the world by Taste Atlas, the Taco al pastor is the most popular taco, it is a must in Mexico. Sometime called « adobada », this sliced pork meat is marinated in chili and spices, and then cooked on a vertical rotisserie called « trompo ».
Best served with:
Red sauce and a touch of lemon
Taco de barbacoa
Origins: Hidalgo
Main ingredient : Lamb
In Mexico, Barbacoa refers to a type of oven, it is traditionally a hole digger in the ground, then covered with rocks and Maguey cactus leafs. The meat (which is most commonly lamb but can be beef, rabbit, goat, and basically every meat or fish) is put inside the oven under the ground, covered with earth and stones, and slowly smoked with chilis, spices, and fruits or vegetables. You can also eat the stew, which is delicious. It is a festive, flavorful dish, we recommend you try it.
Best served with:
Green sauce, onions and fresh coriander
Mezcal y Tequila
Origins: Jalisco for Tequila, Oaxaca for Mezcal
Main ingredient : Agave
Tequila is possibly the most famous drink in Mexico. It is a distilled alcohol from Jalisco, make from a cactus named Agave azul. It goes trough a double distillation and can be aged in barrel. The Tequila can only be made in Jalisco, but there are options of distilled Agave all over Mexico, the other most common Agave based alcohol is Mezcal. Mezcal has normally a smoked taste, and can be produced in different Mexican states, it comes mainly from Oaxaca and a variety of agaves can be used to produce it, each one with their one flavors and characteristics. It is an interesting gastronomic experience.
Mejor acompañados con:
A slice of orange and worm salt
Chilaquiles
Origins: Everywhere in Mexico
Main ingredient: Corn
When you think of a late, slow, sunny breakfast in Mexico, Chilaquiles are an irreplaceable must. Its a plate of dried tortilla cut in triangles, topped with a salsa : you can get them with red or green sauce, if you don’t now which one to choose you can always have both with chilaquiles divorciados (yes, literally, divorced). Then you can add eggs, chicken, mushrooms, cream, cheese and onions. You will find every recipes and creation possible with chilaquiles. And you’ll be full for the day.
Mejor acompañados con:
Green sauce, chicken, sour cream, cheese and onions
Elotes y Esquites
Origins: Central Mexico
Main ingredient: Sweet corn
One thing you will eat and love in Mexico : the corn. It is in every traditional preparation, it takes every form and color. On the markets, and at street « puestos » you will find the famous esquites and elotes. Elote is the sweet corn, its yellow in color and its served according to your taste with lime, mayonnaise, cheese, and of course, chili. You can have it « muy picante » if you’re brave, or « poco picante » , depending on how much you like spicy food. Esquites are to be cooked in a broth with herbs, lime, and you know it, chili. You can also make it to your taste. Its a typical Mexican snack, much worth trying.One thing you will eat and love in Mexico : the
Mejor acompañados con:
Lime juice, mayonnaise, and chili powder
Tamal
Origins: Prehispanic
Main ingredient: Corn
If you have lived or stayed long enough in Mexico City you’ve heard the tamalero biking and singing « Tamales oaxaqueños, tamales calientitos ». At any time of the day, from an early breakfast to a late dinner, you can have a tamal. This corn dough steamed in a corn husk or in a banana leaf (Oaxacan tamal), is filled with salsa and meat, mole, or it can be sweet and creamy. You will find every flavor of it. You can accompany it with a traditional pre-Colombian drink called Atole, also corn based and also delicious.
Best served with:
Its very hard to say, but you can't leave without trying a tamal verde or a tamal de mole
Michelada
Origins: San Luis Potosí
Main ingredient: Beer
These is the most normal thing to drink in Mexico and one surprise for every foreigner coming to try them. You have to know that in Mexico, them more lime and chili, the better. So of course, your beer can be served with lime, salsas, salt and chili on the top, and with variation like a mix of tomato juice "Clamato". It sounds odd but it is very refreshing and it’s the perfect drink for a hot afternoon.
Mejor acompañada con:
Chili powder, lemon juice and salt
Quesadilla
Origins: During the spanish conquest
Main ingredient: Oaxaca cheese
There is an eternal fight in Mexico about the Quesadilla. It is probably the most common dish you’ll find. It is a tortilla (which can be corn or wheat based, it can be white, yellow, pink, or even blue in color), filled with vegetables, meats, eggs, frijoles, and Mexican people highly disagree with the necessity for a quesadilla to have cheese in it. The name would indicate so, but in Mexico City you can find a « quesadilla sin queso ». To be honest, we think everything is better with cheese.
Mejor acompañada con:
Any sauce
Taco de Carnitas
Origins: Michoacán
Main ingredient: Pork
For those how like pork meat, carnitas are a must of Mexican food. Its slowly cooked in its own fat, with a mix of oranges, herbs, garlic, onions, and a bit of Coke (Coca Cola). It is served in a taco with cilantro, fresh onions, lime and salsa, and you can choose specifically which piece you want. We recommend to try « maciza » if you don’t like fat, and « falda » for a flavorful experience.
Mejor acompañada con:
Red saouce, onions and fresh coriander
