I love it. There is no better way to savor an avocado than in a good guacamole. What makes a good guacamole, though, is a matter of opinion. I was invited to a friend’s house for dinner a while back and guacamole was among the appetizers served. The other guests lauded the flavor and texture […]
Continue ReadingA dessert syrup doesn’t get much more Mexican than this. The flavor of the Kahlua liqueur is a natural with that of chocolate. Besides being used for sundaes, the syrup can also be used to make an adult version of hot chocolate, or drizzled over pound cake. Ingredients: 8 ounces Mexican chocolate (Iberia, Abuelita, Mayordomo […]
Continue ReadingAlthough many of the recipes I try come from friends, market salespeople, food stand cooks and restaurant chefs in many parts of Mexico, there is nothing like a good cookbook for inspiration, especially when it comes to putting together different courses to create a harmonious meal. To me, the very best of Mexican cooking is […]
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Two of the biggest buzzwords in today’s media-dominated culinary world are “fresh” and “local,” and on a recent visit to Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, we found the food to be both. Taking advantage of the region’s abundant fresh ingredients, we shopped, cooked and ate our way through the beach town of Puerto Escondido. We had […]
Continue ReadingThis is quick, easy, delicious, and best accompanied by plain white rice. Although the original recipe calls for lard, I much prefer olive or vegetable oil. Ingredients: 2 pounds medium size shrimp 3 tablespoons olive (not extra virgin) or vegetable oil 1 red onion, peeled and sliced into thin crescents (” lunitas“) 4 large cloves garlic, […]
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Once you have acquired your tortilla press and a comal or griddle, all you will need is some waxed paper, cut into squares to fit the dimensions of the tortilla press, to keep the dough from sticking. Although tortillas are baked on a dry surface, a little oil can be applied to the griddle or comal with a paper […]
Continue ReadingThis soup makes use of the zucchini squash and corn that abound in Mexican milpas and gardens north of the border in late summer. If fresh amaranth leaves are not available, use small, tender spinach leaves, along with dry amaranth cereal grains from the supermarket or health food store — these are actually the seeds of the plant […]
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On a recent trip to Oaxaca, I had the pleasure of speaking with Pilar Cabrera, chef, cooking instructor and, most recently, participant in Iron Chef Canada. Chef Cabrera kindly took time out from her busy schedule to sit down and discuss the influences that led to this career, as well as her cooking school, ever-changing menus […]
Continue ReadingIn this recipe, two of central Mexico’s favorite greens are combined with corn, radishes and green onions and dressed with a chile vinaigrette. This makes a good accompaniment to almost any barbequed meat, fish or fowl. Fresh corn kernels cut off the cob are best in this salad, but thawed frozen kernels may be used. […]
Continue ReadingSeptember is back-to-school time, so what more fitting topic for this month’s Mexico Kitchen column than a Mexican cooking school? One of the questions most frequently asked by readers concerns the availability of cooking classes here in Mexico. While several cooking schools exist in Mexico City, the best and most authentic regional cuisines are passed […]
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