Sunday, January 4, 2009

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Mexican food

By KC Kudra

Mexican food is well loved all over the globe. There is plenty of variety when it comes to Mexican food and you can find combinations you have never tried before. A lot of people delight in the smell, taste of authentic Mexican recipes, and admire the great Mexican minds responsible for these tantalizing combinations.

A lot of the Mexican food available to day is based on traditional Mexican recipes, which the Aztecs and Mayas invented. There are also some exotic recipes featuring iguana, rattlesnake, and spider monkeys, which are not unheard of ingredients but are seldom used in modern Mexican cuisine. We have plenty more ingredients from all over the world to use in our recipes these days and Mexican food has evolved as a result of that.

In addition, Mexican food evolved more when the Spanish colonists arrived, bringing new cookery ideas, methods, and different ingredients to incorporate in existing Mexican food dishes. Chili pepper has been a staple ingredient in Mexican recipes for thousands of years and is still very popular. Some Mexican dishes, especially those originating from the Yucatan and Vera Cruz, have a Caribbean influence. Other Mexican dishes, such as bolillo, have a French influence. Bolillo is a popular Mexican bread.

Mexican foods provide many health benefits if they are prepared correctly. There is, however, a lot of difference between traditional Mexican recipes and the modern equivalents. Taco Bell does not use authentic Mexican recipes. America has altered these traditional recipes and added fats to make them appeal to the American palate and preservatives to keep them fresh for longer. This obviously has an impact on the health benefits. Traditional Mexican dishes are rich in fresh ingredients such as garlic, onion, tomatoes, and peppers, which are all very good for you.

Each Mexican region offers different Mexican food. A lot of this depends on the geography and climate of the region and its ethnic differences. In the north of Mexico, meat dishes are very popular. In the south, vegetables and chicken are widely used. The Mexican state of Vera Cruz produces a lot of seafood dishes because this state is long and tropical and there are lowlands running up and down the Gulf of Mexico. Fish such as grouper, red snapper, mojarra, and snook are easy to find. Mojarra is an especially delicious local fish. Lobsters, crab, and oysters are plentiful.

As well as the ocean, over forty rivers run through this state. There are many types of shellfish and freshwater fish available. These seafood recipes are prepared in different ways. Seafood can add a different taste to popular authentic Mexican recipes and it is a very healthy part of the diet.

It is possible to learn plenty of history about Mexican food by the different regions of the country and it is always exciting to try traditional Mexican recipes from various Mexican regions. The history of Mexican food is rich and interesting and when you know where the dishes originated and how they developed, this will add to your overall cooking and eating experience! - 16003

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