Burritos, nachos, and guacamole. What do these famous foods have in common?
Well apart from being so delicious, these foods are a part of the diverse world of Mexican cuisine.
Any city you go to in the United States, you can spot a restaurant serving Mexican dishes.
In Texas alone, there are numerous food joints and restaurants that include famous Mexican dishes on their menus.
But in truth, there is so much more to Mexican cuisine than just sauces and spices. If you look closely, you will know why traditional Mexican food is one of the top cuisines in the world.
Sometimes, some people even consider this cuisine as underrated because it’s stereotyped as just being meaty and spicy cuisine. But that is completely wrong.
Although a lot of Mexican food such as Chili con Carne are meaty and spicy in nature, there are more things to discover in this cuisine.
So on your next trip to a Mexican restaurant, perhaps order something unusual.
Something that you haven’t ordered before.
On the other hand, you can also try cooking it at home to make the ingredients more balanced.
And saying that Mexican food is one of the best cuisines is not abstract.
There are actual convincing reasons for it.
1. Rich History
With every bite that you take in those chicken fajitas or every sip you make with that classic margarita, there is a rich history waiting to be explored.
Historically, the Mexican cuisine can be considered as one of the ancient cuisines.
Mexican food can be traced back to as old as the era of Aztecs and Maya.
During this time with the Mesoamerican cuisine, corn and perhaps beans were the staple food.
This is the reason why there are a lot of corn-based foods like Tortilla dishes even today.
And throughout history, the Mexican cuisine even evolved as Spanish influences came in.
The Spaniards were the ones who introduced dairy products and meats from domesticated animals to the Mexicans.
So basically this cuisine is somehow a fusion of multiple other cuisines that have significantly influenced the Mexican culture.
Related: The History of Margarita
2. Flavorful and Aromatic
There is no cuisine as flavorful and aromatic as that of the Mexican.
If there are two words you can use to describe most Mexican dishes, these are probably flavorful and aromatic.
It is known that Mexican dishes always involve herbs and spices that make them very tasty. Think about Chili con Carne.
This dish uses a lot of ingredients like garlic, onion, pepper, and tomatoes.
So with the combination of these spices, you can expect the resulting food to taste and smell so good.
Once you see and smell Mexican food like quesadillas, it will be difficult to turn it down.
That is the power of Mexican food as one of the top cuisines in the world.
3. Plenty of Options from Dishes to co*cktails
Some cuisines can be pretty restrictive to the options you can get.
But that is something you can’t say here as Mexican cuisine offers so many options. Well, you can even say that sky’s the limit.
This explains why Mexican food is so popular around the world.
There are plenty of options for every type of meal you can think of.
For breakfast, you can have chilaquiles or chorizo.
For a snack, you can make or order enchilada nachos and tacos.
And for the main dish, you can have chimichanga, chille relleno, or even a burrito; while you can order a flan, churros, and tres leches for dessert.
Likewise, there are also very famous drinks associated with this cuisine.
For every Mexican food you order, you can pair it up with a Paloma or Margarita.
4. Complete Meal in One Go
Aside from having many options, most foods in this cuisine are considered a complete meal.
So in just one sitting of eating a burrito or grilled chicken fajitas, you get the nutrients of a full meal.
This is because these foods include protein from different types of meat.
Plus the herbs and spices will always be there.
5. Fresh and Healthy
While it is true that this cuisine is relatively meaty and oily, there are ways to make it healthy and more balanced.
This is mostly applicable if you will cook your own food.
Since some main dishes use oil, cheese, and several kinds of chilis, you may choose to reduce its amount if there is no way that it can be totally removed. Adding more oil and dairy will just add calories to your food.
Meanwhile, you can balance the meat out by adding more vegetables like tomatoes, squash, broccoli, and potatoes or try out some vegan Mexican dishes.
6. Accessible and Relatively Easy to Cook
Since Mexican food is so popular in the United States, there is a high demand for it.
That is why there are numerous Mexican restaurants that have sprung up in most states over the years.
Whether you want to dine in or just order online, most restaurants offer these services.
Some like El Rincon can even provide catering services for whatever occasion you will celebrate.
But if you are the type of person who prefers cooking than ordering, you are in for a treat.
A lot of these Mexican dishes are relatively easy to cook.
Just use some search engines or YouTube and you will be provided with a lot of step-by-step cooking tutorials.
Check out these Mexican foods you can cook or order from your local restaurant.
And during this process, you can always give your own spin to the recipe. Maybe adding some vegetables would be better to make your meal healthier.
We all have our own preferences in terms of our favorite cuisines.
But undeniably, with its unique flavors, aroma, and dishes to offer, Mexican cuisine ranks high on our list.
More from El Rincon Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar
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