Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mexican Cooking

While you may be familiar with many methods of cooking used in Mexico, there are a few that you may want to learn about. Sure, you have grilled, fried, and boiled food before. But have you ever used a steaming bucket? What about a molcajete?

Steaming is an important part of Mexican cooking. Barbacoa is a dish made by steaming meat by suspending it over water that is boiling in a pit. The meat is usually wrapped in banana or cactus leaves. A steaming bucket was used to cook tamales. The steam keeps the masa coating moist and delicious. Today, of course, they can use special kettles made to cook many tamales at the same time. Sweating was a method used to skin fresh chilies that would be used as stuffing or cut into strips to be added to any number of recipes. Soaking was done to onions and chilies to make them milder. Soaking in water and vinegar or milk for 30 to 60 minutes will help neutralize the heat.

Are you still wondering about the molcajete? It is a mortar and pestle that is used to grind or mash herbs and other ingredients. A metate y mano is a large tool made of stone. It is made with a slight concave surface so corn and other ingredients can be ground. This was how corn was prepared to make masa.

Mexican cooks often simmer and boil their food. Vegetables and meat may be placed into a pot to slowly cook all day long. By dinner time, the meat is so tender it falls to pieces. The meat is then used for carnitas, tacos, and many other recipes.

Of course grilling is a method often used in Mexican cooking. Cooking over an open flame adds a lot of flavor to both meat and vegetables. Meat is often marinated first in chilies and spices. Grilling and roasting are great methods to increase the flavor of ingredients like onions, tomatoes, garlic, and chilies. The sugars become caramelized and add a huge boost of flavor.

Stewing is a very traditional technique that has been used in food preparation in Mexico for generations. Cooking foods for long periods of time were a common way to get all the goodness from the food. Sometimes, the meat and vegetables were stewed separately before being combined later. This can be done today in a Dutch oven, but traditionally in Mexico, they used a clay cazuela.

When you want to try some quick authentic Mexican recipes, think about what methods may appeal to you in your own kitchen. Learning new techniques is fun and expands your abilities in the kitchen. Do not be afraid to make a mistake or two. Your family will love trying new things that you make in the kitchen, especially if you are making Mexican food.

As you will learn, there is so much to study with Mexican cuisine. The cooking methods and diversity of flavors create a lifelong study on their own. Dig right in and get started.

Fresh chili pepper has a very different flavor to ground chili and both kinds are used in Mexican recipes. Traditional chicken enchiladas use chili pepper to boost the spicy, tangy flavor and no piquant salsa would be complete without some chili to liven up the taste and complement the Mexican dish you are enjoying.