Mexican cuisine 20167 226080440 2008-07-16T19:09:10Z Evice 90310 rv {{Unreferenced|date=June 2007}} {{Original research|date=September 2007}} {{distinguish2|[[Tex-Mex cuisine|Tex-Mex]], which is often referred to as "Mexican food" in the U.S}} [[Image:Enchiladasmexicanas.jpg|right|175px|thumb|[[Enchiladas]], a traditional dish]] '''Mexican food''' is a style of food that originated in [[Mexico]]. Mexican cuisine is known for its intense and varied flavors, colorful decoration, and variety of spices. ==National cuisine== [[Image:El tango guacamole.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Guacamole]]]] [[Image:Mexico.Salsa.02.jpg||thumb|right|250px| green and red [[Salsa (sauce)]]]] Mexican cuisine has become increasingly recognized in recent years as being among the world's greatest cuisines, including [[French cuisine|French]] and [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese]] cuisine. [[Corn]] is its traditional staple grain, but today, [[rice]] is equally important. According to food writer Karen Hursh Graber, the initial introduction of rice to Spain from North Africa in the 4th Century led to the Spanish introduction of rice into Mexico at the port of [[Veracruz]] in the 1520s. This, Graber says, created one of the earliest instances of the world's greatest fusion cuisines.<ref>Hursh Graber, Diana. "Rice, the Gift of the Other Gods" 2003.</ref> When Spanish [[conquistador|conquistadores]] arrived in the [[Aztec]] capital [[Tenochtitlan]] (now [[Mexico City]]), they found that the people's diet consisted largely of corn-based dishes with chilies and [[herb]]s, usually complemented with beans and tomatoes. The conquistadores eventually combined their imported diet of rice, [[beef]], [[pork]], [[chicken]], [[wine]], [[garlic]] and [[onion]]s with the native indigenous foods of [[pre-Columbian]] Mexico, including [[chocolate]], [[maize]], [[tomato]], [[vanilla]], [[avocado]], [[guava]], [[papaya]], [[pineapple]], [[jicama]], [[chile pepper]], [[beans]], [[Squash (fruit)|squash]], [[sweet potato]], [[peanut]], [[fish (food)|fish]] and [[Turkey (bird)|turkey]]. Most of today's Mexican food is based on ancient traditions, such as the [[Aztecs]] and [[Maya civilization|Maya]], combined with culinary trends introduced by Spanish colonists. ''[[Quesadilla]]s'', for example, are a [[flour]] or corn [[tortilla]] with [[cheese]] (often a Mexican-style soft farmer's cheese such as [[Queso Fresco]] or [[Queso Oaxaca]] ), beef, chicken, pork, and so on. The indigenous part of this and many other traditional foods is the chili pepper. Foods like these tend to be very colorful because of the rich variety of vegetables (among them are the chili peppers, [[green pepper]]s, chilies, [[broccoli]], [[cauliflower]], and [[radish]]es) and [[meat]]s in Mexican food. The French occupation of Mexico influenced Mexican cuisine with [[baked]] goods such as [[sweet bread]]s and the [[bolillo]] (pronounced bo-lee-yo), a Mexican take on the French roll. There is also a minor [[Asian]] influence due to the [[Manila_galleon|Manila-Acapulco galleon trade]], which lasted from [[1565]] to [[1815]]. There are also more exotic dishes, cooked in the Aztec or Mayan style, with ingredients ranging from [[iguana]] to [[rattlesnake]], [[deer]], [[spider monkey]], [[cricket]]s, [[ant]] eggs, and other kinds of [[insect]]s. This is usually known as ''comida prehispánica'' (or prehispanic food). ===Common dishes found on a national level=== Foods that are part of the Mexican culinary tradition include: *[[List of Mexican cuisine dishes#Appetizers (botanas) and side dishes|Common appetizers and side dishes found in Mexican cuisine]] *[[List of Mexican cuisine dishes#Main Courses|Common main course dishes found in Mexican cuisine]] *[[List of Mexican cuisine dishes#Drinks|Common drinks found in Mexican cuisine]] *[[List of Mexican cuisine dishes#Desserts and sweets|Common desserts and sweets found in Mexican cuisine]] types ==Regional cuisine== [[Image:ManekiNeko horchata jar.jpg|thumb|right|Two large jars of [[aguas frescas]]. On the left is a jar of [[jamaica (drink)|jamaica]] and on the right is a jar of [[horchata]].]] Mexican food varies by region, because of local climate and geography and ethnic differences among the indigenous inhabitants and because these different populations were influenced by the Spaniards in varying degrees. The north of Mexico is known for its [[beef]], [[goat]] and [[ostrich]] production and [[meat]] dishes, in particular the well-known [[Arrachera]] cut. Central Mexico's cuisine is largely made up of influences from the rest of the country, but also has its authentic dishes, such as [[barbacoa]], [[pozole]], [[menudo]] and [[carnitas]]. Southeastern Mexico, on the other hand, is known for its spicy [[vegetable]] and [[chicken]]-based dishes. Seafood is commonly prepared in the states that border the [[Pacific Ocean]] or the [[Gulf of Mexico]], the latter having a famous reputation for its fish dishes '''a la veracruzana'''. In modern times, other cuisines of the world have become very popular in Mexico, thus adopting a Mexican fusion. For example sushi in Mexico is often made with a variety of sauces based on [[mango]] or [[tamarind]], and very often served with [[serrano]]-chili blended soy sauce, or made with [[habanero]] and [[chipotle]] peppers. Tacos have also become popular served in very small tortillas, adopting the name of '''tacos árabes''', or arab tacos for their resemblance to [[dolma]]s. Middle eastern cuisine is also popular due to the very large Mexican-Lebanese population living in the country. ==Mexican cuisine outside of Mexico== [[Image:Chocolate with churros.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Churros]] served with [[hot chocolate]].]] A distinction must be made between truly authentic Mexican food, and "Tex Mex" (Texan-Mexican) cuisine. Mexican cuisine combines with the cuisine of the southwest [[United States]] (which itself has a number of Mexican influences) to form Cal-Mex and [[Tex-Mex cuisine]]. The Hispanic cuisines of [[New Mexico]] and southern [[Arizona]] are sufficiently based in authentic Mexican cuisine that they do not have a catchy hyphenated name (nor a highly marketed image) and are usually referred to as New Mexican and Southern Arizonan cooking. New Mexican and Southern Arizonan cooking differ from Northern Mexican cuisine far less than, for example, Mexico City cuisine and California-style Mexican cuisine differ from Northern Mexican. While Mexican Restaurants can be found in almost any town throughout the United States, and in many cities around the world, restaurants outside the American Southwest often feature nontraditional ingredients, such as grated American-style cheese, "nacho" cheese or tomato-based sauce substitutes for Mexican chile-based sauces or mole.[[Image:Memorial Day margaritas.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Margarita|Margaritas]] come in a variety of flavors and colors.]] Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and parts of Florida and Illinois have large expatriate Mexican populations, and a variety of authentic Mexican restaurants can be found in these states. In other areas of the United States and Canada, Mexican dishes and restaurants vary as much as Italian restaurants and dishes do between Italy and many locations in the western Hemisphere. New Mexico's long tradition of Mexican settlement and history and native American influence as well, has created a distinct form of New Mexican cuisine. Even though many of the dishes vary from their Mexican counterparts, they are still considered "authentic" or "traditional" for [[New Mexican cuisine]]. Both Mexicans and New Mexicans typically find each other's cuisine very similar, yet unfamiliar, and non-traditional, typically missing the true taste that they desire. Rarely are Mexican restaurants specializing in New Mexican cuisine found outside of New Mexico (even in Arizona) except in very large cities. ==See also== *[[Aztec cuisine]] *[[Mexican beer]] *[[Mexican wine]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{cookbook}} {{Latin America topic|Cuisine of}} {{North America topic|Cuisine of}} [[Category:Mexican cuisine|*]] [[de:Mexikanische Küche]] [[es:Gastronomía mexicana]] [[fr:Cuisine mexicaine]] [[ko:멕시코 요리]] [[id:Masakan Meksiko]] [[it:Cucina messicana]] [[ms:Makanan di Mexico]] [[nah:Mēxihcatl tlacualcāyōtl]] [[nl:Mexicaanse keuken]] [[ja:メキシコ料理]] [[no:Meksikansk mat]] [[nn:Meksikansk mat]] [[pl:Kuchnia meksykańska]] [[pt:Culinária do México]] [[ru:Мексиканская кухня]] [[fi:Meksikolainen keittiö]] [[uk:Мексиканська кухня]] [[zh:墨西哥料理]]