Mexican food is world-renowned for its blend of indigenous and European flavors. Native ingredients like vanilla, chocolate, tomatoes, chile peppers, and corn have influenced a lot of recipes across the generations.
The rich combinations of flavors and nationwide favorite dishes like burritos, chips, salsa, tacos, and margaritas have consistently kept Mexican food among the most popular food types for years. However, this is only a portion of the real deal. They also make the best food for the surprise virtual happy hour to keep the whole team entertained.
The relatively unpopular dishes found in Mexico are nothing less than the famous ones. The process of nixtamalization -a pre-Hispanic method of soaking the corn kernels in Calcium hydroxide- is considered the heart of Mexican food tradition. The process results in soft dough called ‘Masa’ that is used as a base for several corn-based dishes, tortillas, and tamales.
We have enlisted a few Mexican dishes that are word of mouth for several years. Let’s discover these delicacies as we move forward.
Sopes
A lightweight yet hearty filling Mexican street food is Sopes. It is a round bundle of Masa fried till light golden brown and piled with toppings. The toppings are usually a mixture of shredded chicken salsa roja/ salsa verde, refried beans, and cotija cheese.
Sopes make the best snack to savor throughout the day due to their light nature. You can even make them at home with a little effort. Just find a recipe online or join online cooking classes to relish these delicacies whenever you crave them.
Chicken Enchiladas
Nothing beats the flavorful yet lightweight chicken enchiladas if you are looking for a quick yet satisfying weeknight dinner. They are easy to make in under an hour. Take tortillas of your preference and coat them with enchilada sauce, top it with shredded chicken breasts, and roll tortillas to seal the fillings. Tada! Your chicken enchiladas are ready.
Mexicans love to serve the enchiladas with lime, sour cream, and fresh cilantro, but you can experiment with your creativity and likings.
Mexican Rice
Mexican rice is the classic side dish in Mexican cuisine that is typically made with long-grain rice cooked in a broth of tomato with garlic, onion, and spices like chili powder and cumin. The tomato-based broth gives Mexican rice its signature reddish-orange hue.
This recipe is so full of flavors and equally easy to make. Don’t doubt yourself and have a go at it; you might even put up a dish better than a Mexican restaurant.
Street Tacos
Nothing beats the tender grilled meat street tacos in their deliciousness. This grab-and-go dish is widely known and served in restaurants all around the world. The tacos are made by doubling the two corn tortillas with toppings of grilled meat, veggies, and herbs. Street tacos are no frills and yet are some of the most craved food around the world.
Guacamole
This list of best Mexican food is incomplete without the best ever Guacamole. Whether served with chips, smeared as a burger topping, or loaded on top of tacos, no one can deny that this heavenly blend is mouth-watering.
The recipe is simple. All you need is some smashed avocados, a sprinkle of lime, cut onions, chopped tomatoes, garlic, and jalapenos to seal the deal. If you are not a fan of any of the ingredients, feel free to switch them out to your liking.
Tamales
Tamales aren’t just fun to eat; they are just as fun to make. This traditional Mexican dish is made with the classic Masa dough with a filling of various meats, beans, and cheese. The unique way of cooking tamales is the main reason to bring out the signature flavors. The dough is spread on the corn husks and banana leaves and lined with fillings before wrapping them to cook. As the husk is removed, the dough is left with the texture of the husk and the shape of the wraps. You can also top these with traditional Mexican toppings like salsa, sour cream, avocados, and pico de gallo.
Chicken Tostadas
Chicken tostadas is another fine version of corn tortillas. Where the tostadas are baked or fried corn tortillas layered over with meat, refried beans, cheese, and other interchangeable toppings like cilantro, avocado, diced tomatoes, red/green salsa, and more.
Each ingredient adds its own texture to this iconic dish. Since toppings are added on top of a tortilla without rolling, the dish might seem messy and difficult to eat, but you can get there without staining your clothes with time.
The Bottom Line
The list of delicious traditional Mexican food can be limitless, we have only covered a part of it, but you can make your discoveries and experiment with ingredients on your own.
