Yam and pineapple dessert: Dulce de camote con piña

This delicious dessert is a perfect example of the Afro-Cuban influence on Gulf coast cooking, combining pineapple, a plantation crop, with yams or sweet potatoes, a West African staple. Ingredients: 2 pounds orange yams, washed, peeled and finely chopped 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 slices fresh pineapple (about 1 1/2″ thick apiece), cored and finely […]

Continue Reading

Mexican roasted cauliflower tacos: Tacos de coliflor

The combination of the battering technique and the Baja Style Cabbage Slaw makes a copycat Mexican fish taco. Be sure to drizzle the roasted cauliflower tacos with the avocado sauce. Ingredients 1 2-pound head cauliflower 2 eggs ½ cup flour Salt to taste Light olive oil or vegetable oil for frying 12 corn tortillas Baja Style Cabbage Slaw […]

Continue Reading

Vanilla: a Mexican native regains its reputation

Mention vanilla, and people are apt to think of the ice-cream flavor they select when confronted with a mind-boggling choice involving everything from chirimoya to cheesecake: “just plain vanilla.” What started out as one of the most exotic flavors to be introduced to the European palate has come to be equated with blandness. Even more […]

Continue Reading

Mexican stuffed roasted turkey roulade: Rollo de pavo relleno

This traditional Mexican meat stuffing for turkey is reminiscent of Spanish picadillo. Since only the breast — which tends to have less flavor than dark meat — is used in this recipe, the richness of the stuffing works well with the mild white meat. Cut into thick slices, it forms an attractive spiral pattern, perfect for presenting […]

Continue Reading

Campeche-Style Pompano in Green Sauce: Pampano en Salsa Verde a la Campechana

Fish and salsa verde make a great combination. Serve this with black beans and rice for a classic campechano meal. Ingredients: 1 2-pound pompano, cleaned and scaled (snapper may also be used) juice of ½ lime 3 tablespoons corn oil ½ cup chopped onion 1 pound tomatillos, husked and coarsely chopped ½ cup chopped cilantro 2-3 serrano […]

Continue Reading

Yucatan style plantain soup: Sopa de platano yucateca

This delicious soup from the Yucatan uses half-ripe plantains, meaning green and yellow, not black and yellow. Use vegetable broth to make it vegetarian, if desired, and add more broth for a thinner Yucatan style plantain soup. Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small red onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, […]

Continue Reading