Many people think only of tacos when considering Mexican food. While tacos are delicious and simple to prepare, Mexican cuisine offers a full array of options, including soups, sandwiches and cakes that can enhance your family's enjoyment of food from south of the border.
Tortillas
Making your own flour tortillas is an easy step you can take when preparing Mexican food at home. Share the process with your kids to give them an insight into authentic Mexican cooking. Including time for the dough to rest, making flour tortillas take less than hour (see Resources for a recipe).
Salsa and Pico de Gallo
Making your own pico de gallo or salsa is simple and gives you real control over the taste of your dishes. Simply dice or lightly blend favorite ingredients like tomatoes, onions (red or sweet), peppers (including jalapeños) and cilantro. You can also make a fruit salsa for a refreshing summer taste; in addition to the other ingredients, add chopped pineapple and mango.
Corn Cake
A cake of corn and harina (a corn flour) is a favorite Mexican staple, and complements many Mexican meals. Make your cake sweet or spicy, with blue or yellow corn and combine real corn to add texture and taste (see Resources for a recipe).
Pozole
Pozole is a simple, delicious soup built around hominy (a corn-like vegetable) and a white meat like pork or chicken. With a few other vegetables and the spice of anchos and jalapeños mixed in a chicken or pork stock, this soup is an adventurous alternative to chicken chowder (see Resources for recipe).
Carne Asada
Carne asada is marinated, grilled and thinly sliced steak served on tortillas. Traditionally made with skirt steak, you can serve this with all your favorite Mexican fixings for a slightly more substantial, grown-up taco.
Carnitas
Carnitas are a kind of Mexican pulled-pork sandwich and, though the cooking is slightly more involved than other Mexican dishes, the process can be fun and educational. The pork is braised, then shredded and roasted, which causes it to caramelize. You can serve carnita meat on its own, or use it to fill tortillas.
Vegetarian Ideas
Use grilled vegetables (like mushrooms, peppers and onions) and grains like quinoa or vegetarian meat substitutes like seitan to make vegetarian tacos, burritos and fajitas.
Tags: Resources recipe, favorite Mexican, flour tortillas, Making your, Mexican food