Before I moved to San Francisco, I was not that big a fan of Mexican food. You see, in Michigan where I grew up, the Mexican restaurants were not very good. You would almost inevitably have to make some sacrifices. The food was done in a very American style. Basically, it consisted of grilled meat, fatty processed cheese, Flour tortillas, and refried beans. Although cheese, meat, beans, and tortillas are important ingredients in Mexican food, There is a definite difference between authentic Mexican cuisine and Americanized, or Tex-Mex food.
First of all, Mexican food uses quite a few spices. It isn't all in the ingredients after all. A lot of the taste of any type of cuisine has to do with how you prepare it. Using fresh peppers, tasty marinades, and stone-ground flour does a lot to make the food taste better. What I didn't realize until I had southwestern Mexican food was how diverse it is. There is a lot more to it than burritos and tostadas.
If you have never had authentic Mexican food, I think you should start with something involving a mole sauce. This will help to shatter all of your illusions about what Mexican cuisine is about. This salty, spicy chocolate sauce is used in savory dishes in a way completely unfamiliar to Americans. Chocolate is a rich part of Mexican cuisine and Mexican history, and people from the country use it in unexpected ways. You'll either really like it or really dislike it, but either way it will make a profound impact on you.
Nonetheless, my very favorite Mexican foods are the ones similar to what I grew up with. I have to admit that sometimes I get a craving for a cheesy burrito or something like that. Mexican foods are comfort foods " starch, fatty cheeses, and meat are all central ingredients. As such, they can be the perfect pick-me-up when you are having a rough day. Just don't get carried away!
One of the best ways to explore Mexican food is to experiment with it on your own. Many Mexican dishes are easy to make it home. You can find Mexican recipes on the Internet or in cookbooks. One of the great things about it is that it is easy to tinker with. The recipes are pretty simple for the most part, and it can be very difficult to ruin something. Just remember, peppers and cilantro are the key!
First of all, Mexican food uses quite a few spices. It isn't all in the ingredients after all. A lot of the taste of any type of cuisine has to do with how you prepare it. Using fresh peppers, tasty marinades, and stone-ground flour does a lot to make the food taste better. What I didn't realize until I had southwestern Mexican food was how diverse it is. There is a lot more to it than burritos and tostadas.
If you have never had authentic Mexican food, I think you should start with something involving a mole sauce. This will help to shatter all of your illusions about what Mexican cuisine is about. This salty, spicy chocolate sauce is used in savory dishes in a way completely unfamiliar to Americans. Chocolate is a rich part of Mexican cuisine and Mexican history, and people from the country use it in unexpected ways. You'll either really like it or really dislike it, but either way it will make a profound impact on you.
Nonetheless, my very favorite Mexican foods are the ones similar to what I grew up with. I have to admit that sometimes I get a craving for a cheesy burrito or something like that. Mexican foods are comfort foods " starch, fatty cheeses, and meat are all central ingredients. As such, they can be the perfect pick-me-up when you are having a rough day. Just don't get carried away!
One of the best ways to explore Mexican food is to experiment with it on your own. Many Mexican dishes are easy to make it home. You can find Mexican recipes on the Internet or in cookbooks. One of the great things about it is that it is easy to tinker with. The recipes are pretty simple for the most part, and it can be very difficult to ruin something. Just remember, peppers and cilantro are the key!
About the Author:
Charlie Reese enjoys giving food and psychic chat online advice on his free psychic email readings website daily.
No comments:
Post a Comment