Esta ensalada fue inspirada por los enormes aguacates que compramos en el mercado se San Blas Atempa, un pequeño pueblo afuera de Tehuantepec. Habíamos visto unos parecidos en Chiapas, pero nos dijeron que estos se cultivaban localmente. Lo jugoso de los gajos de naranja hacen un buen contraste de textura con lo cremoso de los […]
Continue ReadingThis salad was inspired by the nearly football-size avocados we bought in the market in San Blas Atempa, a small town right outside Tehuantepec. We had seen some similar ones from Chiapas, but were told that these were locally grown. The juiciness of the orange segments makes a nice textural contrast to the creaminess of […]
Continue ReadingFruit desserts, whether candied, crystallized or compotes, are among the most popular throughout the state of Chiapas. This one is more like a pudding, and may be served chilled or at room temperature, depending upon the time of year and the other courses being served. Chiapans have a collective sweet tooth, and the amount of […]
Continue ReadingThe chilly evening air and the long tradition of fine baking in San Cristobal combine to make this soup a welcome repast in that lovely mountain town. Accompanied by a salad, this thick soup could easily serve as a main course. Ingredients: ¼ cup corn oil or lard 1 onion, peeled and chopped 2 tomatoes, […]
Continue ReadingPlantains, called plátano macho in Spanish, play an important role in the diet of southern Mexicans. They should not be used in cooking until ripe, at which point they will be nearly black all over. These tasty croquettes are filled with beans or cheese. Ingredients: 4 ripe plantains, skins left on, cut in half 4 tablespoons flour […]
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One of my younger daughter’s most vivid food memories of Mexico was her first taste of tamarind candy. As a newly-arrived fourth grader, fascinated by the huge assortment of candies available nearly everywhere, from the dulcerías to the corner store, she seemed determined to try all of them. But the one that hooked her, with its tangy, […]
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Coffee, that fragrant morning eye-opener, is considered a daily necessity by millions of people. The degree of that necessity is reflected in the fact that coffee is the second largest legally traded commodity in the world, after oil. The United States is its biggest consumer, downing a whopping twenty percent of all coffee sold in […]
Continue ReadingMexican chocolate refers to either the round, flat disks of cinnamon-scented chocolate found throughout the land, or the foamy drink made from them. This uniquely flavored sweet is popular in many other countries as well, and, along with flan and rompope, one of the more widely known Mexican dessert and beverage offerings. For centuries, however, […]
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Mexico is blessed with an abundance of fresh tropical fruit. Beautifully arranged platters of fruit are served in restaurants, and disposable cups or bags of fruit on street corners. No matter how humble the setting, these street-corner offerings are always cut into attractively uniform strips or wedges and served with a squeeze of fresh lime […]
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Ask any Mexican to name his or her favorite fruit, and chances are the answer will be el mango. From very early spring until late summer, mangos are everywhere: stacked into symmetrical montones (“mountains”) in the markets, sold in the street on sticks, with the flesh cut to resemble flower petals, or in large glass jars in a spicy […]
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