Everything You Wanted to Know about Mexican Food Traditions
Posted on 23. Nov, 2009 by KC Kudra in Diet & Nutrition
The food of Mexico has a long and varied history. This diverse history is rich with a fusion of influences that has created a cuisine that is enjoyed all over the world. True Mexican cuisine is made of fresh foods that are prepared from scratch. The results are delicious and very good for you.
Mexican cuisine is the result of Spanish, Mayan and Aztec influences. Add in a dash of French and you have today’s Mexican cuisine. Although it has a reputation for being spicy, not all Mexican dishes are hot. Some are creamy and sweet. Depending on the area of Mexico a recipe is from, the food could be based more on beans, fruit, or seafood.
In 1521, when Cortez arrived in Mexico from Spain, he and his fellow explorers found many foods they had never seen before. Peanuts, chocolate, squash, beans, vanilla, avocados, corn, tomatoes, and coconuts were all new flavors that flooded their taste buds. In turn, the Spanish introduced many foods into Mexico like pork, beef, lamb, cheese, garlic, citrus, vinegar, wine, and milk. The native Mexicans quickly assimilated these foods into their cuisine, blending them with their staples easily.
Every cuisine can trace back to a foundation of a few ingredients. Mexican cuisine is based on beans, squash, and corn. Each region added their own local products to this foundation. In the Yucatan, seafood and fresh fruit-based sauces were the focus. Northern Mexico has a lot of charcoal grilled meats on the menu. Around Oaxaca, corn was first domesticated by man. They still grow many varieties there that are unavailable anywhere else in the world. They also grow a lot of chilies and are known to have at least seven different mole sauces in this area.
In Veracruz and its area, most recipes contain fresh fish. Fish is found in tamales, tacos, burritos and more due to the abundance of this ingredient. They also use a lot of olives, chili peppers, and tomatoes in this area. True Mexican food is very different from what you get in the United States.
The Mexican food we eat in the United States is really Tex-Mex food. In Mexico, it would be very rare to be served both rice and beans in the same course, or even the same meal. In the US, it is common to have them served together on the same plate. Salad is not a usual dish in Mexico, either. All of this is influenced from the US.
You can easily find traditional Mexican recipes in books or online, but do not expect them to be like what you eat at Mexican restaurants. Authentic Mexican cuisine is a delicious tradition you should try. Maybe you can try some of the regional recipes that use fresh ingredients like seafood or fruit. They are really amazing.
Sitting down to a Mexican meal does not necessarily mean tacos and enchiladas, but this certainly is a wonderful way to enjoy it. The real cuisine of Mexico is rich and full of flavor. Enjoy some at your own table and see all it has to offer. You will be very surprised.
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