Estimated reading time: 16 minutes
Mexican food is so loved because it is packed full of flavour, fresh ingredients and a fusion of its history. But if you’ve never tried cooking it at home, then it can be a little daunting.
Fear not! If you’re not sure of the difference between Fajitas and Enchiladas, or can’t tell your Taco from your Burritos then you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we will cover the main ingredients for Mexican food along with popular dishes and some authentic recipes. If you have any questions or need more information please do leave us a comment at the bottom. We’d love to hear from you!
Ingredients Used In Mexican Food
Avocado
Avocados are native to Mexico and if there’s one ingredient that sums up Mexican food then it has to be it! You really can’t beat homemade Guacamole!
Salsa Verde
Made using tomatillos, Salsa Verde is really the workhouse of Mexican cuisine. Green in colour and slightly tart you will find salsa verde in every Mexican meal. Our favourite way to use it might be this Pork In Salsa Verde Tacos.
Rice
Rice is another staple of everyday meals in Mexico. Arroz Rojo, also known as red rice or Mexican rice, is the most common type of rice you will find. Our favourite way to enjoy is as a meal on its own with a crispy fried egg on top.
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Beans
No Guide to Mexican Food would be complete without discussing Beans the staple of the Mexican diet! Most common in Mexico are black beans which are used to make Frijoles or pinto beans, used for refried beans. Beans would also be a common ingredient in Mexican stews
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Corn
It is often said that Mexicans are people of the corn. Corn was domesticated over 10,000 years ago and it is not only a staple in the Mexican diet but with its rich history has become a deeply cultural symbol.
Whether it’s tortillas, tamales or our favourite way to eat – slathered in chipotle mayo like the kind you will find from street vendors in Mexico City, corn is a really delicious part of Mexican cuisine.
Tortilla Wraps
You can’t have Mexican without Tortilla wraps. They are the carrier and the holder of all the delicious things we talk about below.
There are really two things you need to know about them and that is they are either made with wheat or corn and they are either big or small.
Whether the wraps are corn or wheat largely depends on what part of Mexico you are in. Central and Southern Mexico its corn and Northern Mexico is wheat. This is down to what the locally grown crop is.
Outside of Mexico wheat tortillas tend to be more popular as they are softer and easier to cook with (they don’t break). It’s for this reason that wheat tortillas are used for Burritos.
One of the largest debates surrounding Mexican cuisine is whether to go corn or wheat. But really it doesn’t matter. They are both equally delicious so it’s really down to what you personally prefer.
Chillies
The use of Chillies is Mexicna cusine is one it defining facotors. As well as bringing a level of heat, chillis can add a lot of flavour to the food. From the smokiness of chipotle to the fruitniness of Guajillo, Mexican food uses so many different types of chillis. You can find here the full list of Mexican Chillies.
Popular Mexican Dishes
Tacos
When we think about authentic Mexican food the first word that comes to mind is usually tacos. Tortillas are the everyday bread of Mexican food and just about everything gets wrapped up to make a taco. Tacos are eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Tacos have been around for centuries in Mexican cuisine and stood the test of time.
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What Makes Up A Taco?
There are two main differences between the multiple variations of tacos. The first is about the tortilla itself – corn vs. flour. Corn tortillas are often found in the southern part of Mexico. In the northern part of Mexico, flour tortillas reign supreme.
The second main difference between the variations of tacos is the filling. Tacos generally have a single filling and there are quite a wide variety of fillings to choose from.
With the increasing number of plant-based eaters, there has been a proliferation of even vegan tacos, much to the dismay of the more conservative meat-eating Mexicans.
The filling is then typically topped with a variety of taco toppings including finely cut onion and cilantro, a quick slaw or pickle, Green Serranos, Sliced Cactus and/or salsa.
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Different Types Of Tacos
In our Guide to Tacos we delve deeper into the different popular tacos by region but here are a few of the highlights:
Carnitas: these are most commonly found on the street stalls, and are the cheapest version made with different cuts of pork and cooked with lard and various spices.
Al Pastor: the king of the tacos, made with pork meat or veal normally cooked over coal.
Barbacoa: (barbeque tacos) made with different types of meat cooked on the BBQ either with lemon juice or steamed. Different types of meat can be used, from goat to chicken, rabbit or fish.
Burritos
Next, on our guide to Authentic Mexican Food, we have burritos. The main difference between tacos and burritos is the size of the tortilla used and how many you eat! Tacos are small and open, and you might need 3 or 4 to satisfy your appetite. A burrito, on the other hand, has a much larger tortilla and a variety of fillings. Certainly, a single burrito would make up a meal.
Burritos are made with flour tortillas as corn would break with that size of a tortilla. The ends of the soft flour tortilla are folded in and then it’s rolled closed. Inside, you will often find meat along with rice and beans for a hefty all in one.
Our recipe for a Chicken Burrito has tender slow-cooked chicken with Chipotle Paste for a delicious smoky flavour.
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Fajitas
The term Fajitas refers to the filling. They originally contained sizzling strips of steak, but now you will find fajitas with just about every variation of protein. They always contain peppers and onions though.
If you do want a meat-free version, check out our Veggie Fajitas recipe. The fun with fajitas is that you make your own, so can build them just how you want them!
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Quesadillas
Next up in this guide to Mexican cuisine are Quesadillas! When it comes to Quesadillas, it’s all about the melted cheese. For a quesadilla, you fill a tortilla with cheese and toast in a hot pan until the cheese melts. You can add other fillings such as carne asada steak, chicken or veggies.
In Mexico, Queso Oaxaca is used which is a stringy cheese. As Queso Oaxaca can be quite hard to find, we recommend using a good melting cheese such as gruyere, gouda, or cheddar.
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Enchiladas
Enchiladas are smothered in sauce and melted cheese and meant to be eaten with a knife and fork. Flour tortillas are filled with meat or cheese and rolled up, with a sauce which can be green, red or white poured over the top, and sprinkled with shredded cheese that is then melted in the oven.
Our Enchilada Cooking Sauce with tomatillo and jalapeño makes it easy to make delicious Easy Chicken Enchiladas. If you have more time though, our Slow Cooked Chicken Enchiladas with a red sauce is a major crowd-pleaser.
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Nachos
Next on our list of the Beginner’s Guide to Mexican Food is Nachos. Nachos use lightly salted tortilla chips which are tortillas that have been cut into triangles and quickly fried. Served with melted cheese and a variety of toppings. A great dish to make when entertaining, as a snack or starter.
In Mexico a common dish for breakfast is chilaquiles. These are a form of breakfast nachos. Normally made with Salsa Verde and topped with a fried egg they are defiantly worth a try!
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Tostadas
Tostadas have a crunchy, fried flat tortilla as a base. You will typically find tostadas spread with refried beans, cheese, shredded lettuce and then topped with any variety of meat, veggies and salsa. Another popular and quite different variation is the Tuna Tostada made with delicious tuna ceviche, fried leeks and a good dollop of our Chipotle Mayo.
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Huevos Rancheros
Mexican breakfasts are epic, and definitely one of the many meal highlights when travelling in Mexico! There are so many delicious and flavourful breakfast recipes to try including our favourites Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles.
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We hope you enjoyed reading our Beginner‘s Guide to Mexican Food and now confidently know the difference between an Enchilada and Fajitas! We hope we inspired you to try making some Mexican food at home and would love to see what you get up to in the kitchen. Be sure to tag us #granluchito and happy cooking from all of us!
It should be highlighted that these are not dishes commonly found in mexico itself. Enchiladas are common but are usually chicken filled with possibly mole on top, not smothered in cheese. Burritos might be found up north maybe but not in the majority of mexico. Fajitas are only seen in touristy hotels. Quesadillas are traditionally ONLY cheese, not stuffed with other things. .
Hi there, you might prefer to read our What Is Authentic Mexican Food blog – https://gran.luchito.com/food/authentic-mexican-food/
The Beginner’s Guide is geared to people living in the UK and the types of Mexican food found here
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