The most distinctive ingredient in this dish is amaranth (amaranto), native to Tlaxcala and cultivated for use in cooking (most notably moles and the homemade bars of candy called alegrías, sold in every plaza in Mexico.) The tiny dried amaranth seeds used in this recipe are found in health food stores everywhere. This is not […]
Continue Reading
The streets are littered with mango pits, and stands selling fresh mangos-on-a-stick, cut to resemble flowers, are on every other street corner. Is it a festival? A fair? No, it’s just mango season in Mexico, and no one can seem to get enough of this sweet, tropical delight. The easiest way to cut it into […]
Continue ReadingEpazote is a characteristic flavor of the central region of Mexico, and especially favored in the cuisines of Puebla and Tlaxcala. It distinguishes this recipe for Mexican trout with epazote. Ingredients 4 small trout, cleaned, scaled and split horizontally, or use 4 to 6 ounce trout filets Juice of 1 lime 4 tablespoons olive oil […]
Continue Reading“Melting pot” cooking has given rise to innumerable ethnic grocery stores in the United States, and for people who enjoy cooking authentic Mexican food, this means that ingredients are easily available. Dried avocado leaves, essential to several Mixteca recipes, are sold in just about any Mexican grocery store. These are from the native Mexican avocado, Peresea […]
Continue ReadingMexican pear and ancho chile jam: Mermelada de pera y chile ancho This jam is perfect to make as late summer turns into fall. In Cholula, the September feast of the Virgin de los Remedios finds the plaza filled with fruit vendors selling huge stacks of pears from the Sierra. The pear and ancho chile […]
Continue ReadingA few years ago, I had a call from Rachel Wharton, a writer for the New York Daily News food section. She was writing an article on cemitas, the latest sandwich craze to hit New York at the time, thanks to the many immigrants from Puebla who have contributed enormously to the wonderful street food culture of my home […]
Continue ReadingThis variation of the classic arroz con leche is served in Zimatlan, Oaxaca, one of the largest amaranth-producing areas in Mexico. The addition of popped amaranth grains adds nutrients as well as a delicious, nut-like flavor to the Mexican rice pudding. Ingredients 1 cup rice 2 cups water 1 cup milk 1 can condensed milk 1 cup amaranth cereal […]
Continue ReadingMexican seven seas fish is a specialty of La Cenaduría, a lovely old adobe restaurant in San Jose del Cabo. It combines fresh red snapper filets, a mild salsa roja, and just enough manchego cheese to melt over the top. The description of the preparation that I was given mentioned only “red sauce;” since this […]
Continue ReadingAmong the most charming presentations of any vegetable, these herb-wrapped bundles of baby carrots are a specialty of Cuetzalan and the surrounding mountain towns. Served by the locals, the carrots are enveloped in taro leaves; however, the dish may be successfully prepared using spinach leaves instead. The fragrant split vanilla beans, carefully counted out into […]
Continue ReadingThis stew, a product of Mexico’s cattle ranches, originally utilized just about any part of the cow that was available, including the udders. It is a simple, tasty one-pot meal that reflects the lifestyle of the hard-working vaqueros, who often had to prepare their meals over a campfire. Ingredients 3 1/2 lbs. beef chuck, cut into 1″ […]
Continue Reading