About Mexican food

Authentic Mexican food is vibrant, delicious, fresh and fun. It is also colourful, spicy and uses an amazing array of chillies, both fresh and dried. Many ingredients are readily available everywhere, such as tomatoes, limes, coriander, red onion, avocado, and corn, and specialty ingredients are becoming more readily available in Australia and elsewhere.

Among the staples of Mexican food are beans and corn. Corn is used to make masa, a dough that is then turned into tortillas and tamales, whereas beans and corn feature prominently in many dishes.

Mexican cooking is packed with flavour; among the herbs and spices that give it its distinct kick are a variety of chillies (fresh, dried, smoked and pickled), alongside oregano, coriander (known as cilantro in North America), cinnamon and cocoa. Garlic, onions, lemons and limes are also used generously.

Mexico’s six regions vary considerably in terms cuisine due to key differences in geography, climate and ethnic makeup. For example, the north of Mexico is known for its beef, goat and ostrich production. In the Yucatan, food tends to be sweeter and less spicy and achiote is the most common seasoning, whereas the Oaxacan region is known for its savoury tamales and mole sauces. Popular dishes of Central Mexico include carnitas (braised or roasted pork) and pozole (a pre-Columbian meat stew.) Southeastern Mexico cooking has a Caribbean influence due to its geography and is known both for its fish dishes and spicy vegetable and chicken dishes.

Grilled fish

There’s a common perception that Mexican food is both spicy and heavy but, in fact, true Mexican food has both a depth of flavour – with its combination of savoury and earthy flavours – and a fresh lightness from its generous use of fresh herbs, vegetables and citrus. In most of Mexico it would be very unusual to put cheese in tacos, enchiladas or tostados, for example, and if it were used it would be a Mexican panela cheese (a smooth, fresh, white cheese).

Mexican food in Australia has long been far more of the "Tex Mex" variety, but this is slowly but surely changing.

 

View our Mexican recipe collection here.