Spring and summer mean berry season, and this Mexican strawberry flan, made in individual custard cups, look festive garnished with a few slices of strawberry and sprigs of fresh mint. Ingredients 1 ¼ cups sugar 2 cups sliced strawberries, plus extra for garnish 1 can condensed milk (14 ounces) 6 eggs Preheat the oven to […]
Continue ReadingI first tasted this dish several years ago, prepared by Doña Gloria of the Hotel Bar Reforma in Cholula. It was the first time I had seen the purple-fleshed variety of sweet potatoes other than in their raw state in the market. It made for a dramatically colorful presentation, although it is just as good […]
Continue ReadingYucca has always been a staple in the cooking of the Caribbean and the Yucatan peninsula. Fairly bland on its own, it takes well to the flavor of other ingredients. In Mexican yucca in orange sauce, it blends with garlic and oranges. Ingredients 6 medium size yuccas 2 tablespoons corn oil 4 cloves garlic, peeled […]
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In the enormously diversified world of chiles, the poblano has long been considered one of the tastiest, most attractive and widely used of the capsicum family. A staple of Mexican home and restaurant cooking, the poblano has, in recent years, been fondly adopted into the family of favorite vegetables north of the border. Although poblano chiles are […]
Continue ReadingAchiote paste, a characteristic seasoning of the Yucatan, where it is known as recado rojo, has been discussed before in this column. Made from the seed of the annatto tree ground with cumin, cloves and peppercorns, it is found in the Hispanic food section of supermarkets north of the border, or can be ordered through […]
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The months of April and May, after the cool winter and before the summer rains, are the warmest times of year in Central Mexico. But as in much of the country, the mountains are never far away, and provide a refreshing break from the heat. Some of the most thriving enterprises in the highland areas […]
Continue ReadingThis beverage was first made by the colonial-era nuns at the Convent of Santa Clara in Puebla, and the Santa Clara brand is still one of the most popular. It is fun and very easy to make at home. Unlike north-of-the-border eggnog, rompope already contains alcohol, although in a small proportion, so it does not […]
Continue ReadingAlthough fresh fava beans appear only in springtime in the markets of Central Mexico, the dried versions are available throughout the year and cook much more quickly than other dried beans. I gave a recipe for a Puebla style fava bean soup in the November 2003 issue of Mexico Connect, but this one differs in its use […]
Continue ReadingThis recipe is adapted from Nueva Salsa Recipes to Spice It Up by Rafael Palomino and Arlen Gargagliano. The original calls for ají amarillo, but serrano chile is a good substitute. If you like it really hot, try using habanero chile. White balsamic vinegar is not always easy to find in Mexico, but apple cider vinegar, found in any […]
Continue ReadingChipotle chiles give these chicken empanadas a characteristic taste of Central Mexico. I’ve made these as Mexican mini empanadas (empanaditas) for a party buffet, and recommend chopping everything very finely in order to fill smaller dough rounds. Ingredients For the dough: 2 cups all-purpose flour ¾ cups masa harina or very fine cornmeal ½ teaspoon […]
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