Discover and re-discover Mexico’s cuisine, culture and history through the recipes, backyard stories and other interesting findings of an expatriate in Canada
This post was written inspired by my backyard harvest; although far from perfect (see for example, my previous post), I feel grateful to be able to enjoy products from the fertile soil and my gardening work, and it makes me proud to feature my veggies when I cook. That made me think of Carne Asada a la Tampiqueña, created with the same sentiment, to represent the richness and spirit of La Huasteca region, in Mexico …
In the Mexican state of Chihuahua, burritos are made with regular sized wheat tortillas, often filled with just two layers: refried beans and one kind of guisado (Mexican stew), then rolled; they might be simpler than the large burrito bundles in Southern US, but equally delicious ...
The history of the wheat tortilla is very interesting, because neither did it originate in Central Mexico, nor was it an adaptation of the corn tortilla, a pre-Hispanic staple from that region. The Northern Mexican states favour wheat tortillas over corn, and each region has its own recipes. Mine is based on my mom's, who was born in the Northern Mexican state of Coahuila … click on title for more
Deshebrada, meaning “shredded” in Spanish, is the short name for a stew (guisado) very popular in Mexico’s Northern states, especially Chihuahua. Because the region is famous for its cattle, it is implied that this dish is made with beef … click on title for more
In Mexico, it is common to have fried pork rinds just crumbled into a warm corn tortilla, topped with any salsa and enjoyed as a taco; snack size pieces are also served as chips with a bowl of salsa on the side. When there are leftovers from a party or family gathering, it is very convenient to cook them in sauce (sometimes leftover from the party as well), but as a guisado (stewed dish), this Mexican classic is prepared as a staple for any taco bar or burrito line-up … click on title for more
This is a Mexican classic that seems to be included in every tacos de guisado menu. Prepping the poblano peppers is somewhat laborious, but absolutely necessary; their flavour becomes rich and complex once roasted, and their texture is smooth after peeling … click on title for more
At my local supermarkets, large bags of fresh green beans are available right now, so I got one. Since it was far too much to use at once, I blanched them, and froze all but 2 cups, which I prepared with a creamy chipotle sauce … click on title for more
I needed recipes other than jam to take advantage of my black currant bumper crop. A compote is by definition “a dessert of fruit cooked in syrup” and it is as simple to make as it sounds; making a small batch is not a burden even in the hot summer season because cooking times are short and, unlike with jam, there are no worries with compote about acidity, pectin levels or gelling, since it is supposed to be somewhat runny, like a sauce … click on title for more
The inspiration for this recipe was a seared fish tostada I enjoyed during my recent trip to Mexico. My version was very similar to the original, but I thought the fresh crunch from the raw veggies I used was very pleasant, and the visual appeal from the variety of colours and shapes was a big bonus … click on title for more
These tasty corn dough (masa) preparations are shaped like, and named after, the chalupa, a small boat that, in Mexico, has served as water taxi, produce transport, or floating food stand, for centuries … click on title for more
