The almighty taco: a basic staple of Mexican cuisine, whose variations we can see in other Latin American cultures and an item so popular and ubiquitous it has become the poster boy for Mexican food all around the world, especially in the United States.
We may roll our eyes at the stereotype, but, truth is, a lot of Mexicans would be content with only eating this ancestral dish every day for the rest of their lives. However, "man shall not live on tacos alone".
That's why we're going to show you some other delicious Mexican dishes so you can expand your culinary repertoire. Don't forget to take your Spanish lessons beforehand so you'll know exactly what to ask the waiter for. Antacids are strongly recommended for those with weaker stomachs. Also, if your server tells you the hot sauce is not that hot, take his or her advice with a grain of salt. It most certainly will be!
Birria
This goat or beef stew hails from Jalisco, a state that has also given the world the gift of mariachi and tequila, although other states like Colima and Zacatecas put their own spin on it. Spicy, a little bit sweet and with an intense flavor, you just need a few drops of lime and some onion and cilantro to enjoy this dish. What started as a meal for special occasions, such as weddings, has evolved into an everyday indulgence that can also work wonders for when you're nursing a hangover. Some people prefer not drinking the broth and instead enjoy the meat inside a taco. Bonus points if your taquero dips the tortilla in the grease from the stew before throwing it on the griddle, resulting in the crispiest, most delicious taco ever! Birria can be "born" on a stovetop, but others prefer the traditional method, which consists in cooking the meat underground in an oven pit lined with hot stones, and covered in layers of clay and maguey leaves, letting the meat marinate in its own drippings until it's perfectly cooked!
Pozole
(Photo credit: Pixabay)
Mexicans have been enjoying this hearty soup since before the Spanish arrived in 1519. Some say it originally featured human meat, resulting from the sacrifices made by the indigenous people of Mexico. Now, it's not nearly as scary and oh so tasty! A tomato and chili base broth, chicken or pork and the star of the show, hominy, come together to make this iconic Mexican dish. States like Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Guanajuato y Jalisco serve different versions of the soup, usually accompanied by tostadas (fried tortillas), avocado and sliced radishes. Pozole can be enjoyed every day of the week, but it's considered by many to be a party dish. Mexican cooks make huge pots of this hearty soup, which can sometimes last for days. After all, leftover pozole tastes just as good (or better) when reheated, and it's also a great excuse for another gathering with friends or family. Many households serve pozole during the December holidays, and for many days afterwards, which constitutes the practice of "recalentado", which means "reheated" but also a cultural and culinary phenomenon so vast that we'll have to discuss it in a later post.
Cochinita pibil
(Photo credit: Flickr)
This spicy dish with Mayan roots could explain southern Mexico's fascination with pork. The state of Yucatán was presumably the first place where indigenous people first tried this versatile animal, and the love affair is still going strong. The word "pibil" comes from the Mayan term 'pib', which means to cook in an underground stone oven. The pork is covered in a red, spicy paste called achiote, dressed in banana leaves and then, just like birria, baked below ground. When it comes out, it's served with a mixture of red onion, bitter orange and habanero chilies. You HAVE to try it!
We are also famous for our snacks. As you may know, corn is the most important ingredient in Mexican cuisine, and you can get it as a hot snack in one of many street carts that serve with a bit of sprinkled cheese, butter and, of course, chili. The spicy pepper not only makes an appearance in countless salsas and stews, but it can also be used for topping slices of sweet, colorful fruit! BuzzFeed made a pretty cool video of Americans trying Mexican snacks. Which one looks the most delicious?
