Most of the world famous ingredients originated in Mexico. The local cuisine is based on a large selection of products: avocados, zucchini, corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes and sweet potatoes, chili peppers, poultry, peanuts, and various types of fish.
The main place in traditional Mexican cuisine is given to corn - boiled and fried, as a drink and in the form of flour, with ground pepper and meat. Favorite and common corn dishes are:
- charcoal baked corn tortilla with taco filling;
- "Pinoles" - a mixture of cocoa and toasted corn flour;
- "Tamales" - steamed pieces of corn dough served with sauce;
- flat cakes with different fillings - "chimichangi", "nachos" and others.
Chili pepper can also be considered a visiting card of Mexican cuisine; there are about 80 varieties of it. A variety of sauces are prepared from it, added to salads, to corn, to fish and meat dishes, and stuffed.
Meat dishes are very varied. Goulashi "olya podrila" are considered to be truly Mexican, as well as "chepile" - pork with vegetables, "carne asados" - fried beef served with beans, empada - stuffed flatbread, many types of stewed, boiled and fried turkey, "enchilada" - rolls stuffed with meat, eggs, pepper or cheese.
The range of vegetables used in the diet is extremely varied. Beans come first - dried, fresh, roasted. They are used as a filling in various soups, numerous tortillas, or as a side dish. Many dishes are prepared from the nopal cactus - its seeds, fruits, leaves and flowers are used. Popular in local cuisine and avocado, beans, agave, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms. Chayote (Mexican cucumber) is in great demand - it is used stewed, boiled and baked, included in side dishes, salads and casseroles.
Fish recipes are based on national traditions, which are distinguished by a huge amount of spices and corn, numerous seasonings and the most unusual sauces. The favorites include cod dishes, tortilla with fish, swordfish with garlic sauce or lemon, "sopa de marisco" - seafood soup.
Most often local fruits become a dessert, very popular are "canas asades" - fried sugar cane, "rosca de reyes" - royal sweet bread, muffins and buns, as well as fruit and vegetable dishes - mango with cream, cherry "chimichangi", pumpkin in syrup, corn soufflé, lots of stuffed puddings.
Tequila became the drink that made the country famous. There are about 300 types of this drink, but only 4 are officially approved - Anejo Reposado Blanco, Joven. The traditional drinks “mezcal”, “pulque” (produced by distillation from five types of agave), “bakanor” and “sotola” are considered popular. Mexican wines produced according to European technologies are also excellent, as well as Korona beer and Don Pedro brandy.
