Discover and re-discover Mexico’s cuisine, culture and history through the recipes, backyard stories and other interesting findings of an expatriate in Canada
One last classic recipe to use up my homemade Quick Danish Dough is for these delicious empanadas hojaldradas (flaky patties). Mexican bakeries across the country offer flaky patties, with some of the most common fillings being red mole, tuna fish, cheese and roasted poblano peppers, and apple. I chose the last three flavours for this post ... click on title for more
In Central Mexico, and especially in Mexico City, these old-fashioned buns may still be found at bakeries (panaderías). They are generically known as hojaldras (layered), usually called the same when filled with cooked shredded chicken and red mole, and known as Marinas when filled with slices of ham and cheese ... click on title for more
Although this preparation is called relleno (literally, stuffing), and is traditional during the Christmas season in the Mexican state of Guerrero, this delicious pork dish stands on its own as a main dish any time of the year. Guerrerenses often enjoy it on Sundays, after church, or while watching a sports game, popularly stuffed in a crusty bun (hence the name), topped with a piece of crispy skin from the pork, and pickled jalapeños ... click on title for more
"Asado" translates from Spanish as "roasted"; this dish probably got that denomination from being cooked traditionally over an open wood fire. Now also cooked over the stove, it could receive a promotion to stew, with its generous chunks of pork, in a rich red sauce (as the name indicates, by rojo). Several of Mexico's Northern states have their own versions; this recipe is based on the state of Durango's seasonings, which include a variety of dried red peppers, spices, and an acidic accent, traditionally achieved by adding orange juice or vinegar ... click on title for more
Traditional discadas were cooked on a plow disc, and included a variety of meats, fresh or cured. Onions, tomatoes and hot peppers, particularly jalapeños, were brought from the fields for the disc. More contemporary recipes may be prepared on a propane bbq, or indoors, in an iron skillet or pan, and have added cold cuts, such as ham, and hotdog sausages, and other vegetables and aromatics. Pouring some beer in towards the end of the cooking process was probably introduced by a sassy cook who was drinking by the side of the disc, noticing the dish getting too dry, which works well and also helps to scrape all the good charred bits at the bottom of the pan ... click on title for more
My Slice of Mexico 