Key ingredients: Mexican (2024)

Annatto

Annatto (achiote) is a red seed with a mild earthy flavour. It is used in cooking for both colour and flavour and can also be used to dye fabric. It is sold as a pressed block.

Avocado

Avocado is a popular Mexican ingredient, used in both salsas and to make guacamole.

Beans

Beans are also known as frijoles. Pinto and Black turtle beans are the main types. Black turtle beans are used to make refried beans.

Chillies are a primary flavour ingredient in Mexican food, whether smoked, dried, fresh or picked. Some of the most popular types include ancho chillies (mild and sweet – known as poblano when fresh); guajillo (requires long soaking); habanero (a super hot variety); jalepeno (the most common – known as chipotle when smoked and dried); and pasilla (mild to medium hot).

Chocolate

Mexican chocolate is dark and bitter chocolate flavoured with cinnamon, almond and cloves. Used to make hot chocolate drinks.

Coriander

Coriander (cilantro) is the most commonly used fresh herb in Mexican cooking.

Huitlacoche

A fungus (almost like a truffle) that grows on corn. It has a unique flavour and is used in coups and salsas.

Jamaica

Jamaica is a wild rosella flower that is used to make a cold tea.

Jicama or yam bean

Jicama or yam bean is a crunchy root vegetable. It can be eaten raw or cooked.

Lime

Lime is widely used in salsas, marinades and margaritas.

Nopales

A type of cactus sold in jars that is an essential ingredient in Mexcian cooking. When cut into strips, it is known as Nopalitos.

Hominy

Hominy is dried white corn that is used to make a much loved dish called Pozole. Some small restaurants in Mexico serve only this dish.

Tomatillos

Tomatillos are sold as a canned product. They look like a small green tomato but are actually a member of the gooseberry family. They have a very tart flavour and are used in many dishes included salsas and stews.

Tortillas

Tortillas are soft, pancake like flatbreads, made with corn or wheat that are eaten with most meals.

Key ingredients: Mexican (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients of the typical Mexican diet? ›

The most popular Mexican ingredients are beans, rice, avocado and limes. They're utilized in nearly every dish, from hearty enchilada casseroles to creamy drinks like horchata. Read on to learn the top ingredients in Mexican cooking and to find some recipe inspiration for your next taco or burrito night at home!

What ingredients are grown in Mexico? ›

The growing of crops is the most important aspect of Mexico's agriculture, accounting for fifty percent of agricultural output. Main crops include corn, sugarcane, sorghum, wheat, tomatoes, bananas, chili peppers, oranges, lemons, limes, mangos, other tropical fruits, beans, barley, avocados, blue agave and coffee.

What is the name of Mexican food that has more than 20 ingredients? ›

Mole Poblano contains around 20 ingredients, including chocolate and mulato peppers and things like pulverized raisins, almonds, and peanuts. It has a pleasing, sweet, savory flavor that is especially delicious with chicken.

What are 5 Mexican dishes? ›

Top 20 Mexican foods to try
  • Tacos al pastor. These tacos are made with marinated pork that is cooked on a spit and then sliced thin. ...
  • Enchiladas. These rolled tortillas are filled with meat or cheese and topped with a flavourful sauce. ...
  • Tamales. ...
  • Chiles rellenos. ...
  • Pozole. ...
  • Guacamole. ...
  • Sopaipillas. ...
  • Tortas.
Jan 29, 2023

Why is Mexican food so healthy? ›

Vitamins & Minerals

Lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and other vegetables found in Mexican foods are rich in essential nutrients. Packed with vitamin C, tomatoes and onions help to fight infection and boost immunity. Avocado is another superfood found in many Mexican dishes.

What is most Mexican food made of? ›

Mexican cuisine
  • Mexican cuisine consists of the cooking cuisines and traditions of the modern country of Mexico. ...
  • Today's food staples native to the land include corn (maize), turkey, beans, squash, amaranth, chia, avocados, tomatoes, tomatillos, cacao, vanilla, agave, spirulina, sweet potato, cactus, and chili pepper.

How spicy is Mexican food? ›

Mexican food is spicy, but not painfully spicy.

While there are 64 different kinds of peppers in Mexico, it's the other ingredients that make the food flavorful, not just the peppers. You're not supposed to be in pain when eating spicy Mexican dishes.

What is Mexico's main source of food? ›

Mexico produces large quantities of maize (corn), coffee, sugar cane, beans tomatoes and avocados. Mexico also produces tropical products such as sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, papayas, mangoes, coffee and cacao.

What is Mexican food culture? ›

Mexican food is a blend of indigenous (Indian) and Spanish influences. At the heart of the cuisine of this beautiful country are three very important crops: corn, beans, and chilies. These native foods are cheap and widely available.

What is made in Mexico? ›

Major Manufacturing Industries in Mexico

Although many industries are moving their manufacturing to Mexico, the most prominent industries in Mexico are the automotive, aviation and aerospace, medical device, apparel and textile, and consumer products industries.

What are the 3 main ingredients in Mexican food? ›

The Most Important Ingredients for Mexican Cuisine
  • Corn (maize) Popol Vuh, which is the sacred book of the Mayas, says that men were made of corn. ...
  • Chili. In Mexican cuisine, the use of chili is a must. ...
  • Cocoa.
Mar 16, 2024

What is true Mexican food? ›

Authentic Mexican food dates back to the times of Mayan Indians and the Aztec Empire. Both cultures collided, combining foods like corn tortillas, beans, chili peppers, wild game, and fish. When Spain invaded Mexico in the 1500s, foods like pork, dairy, garlic, and other herbs and spices became popular.

What is the unhealthiest Mexican food? ›

What Is the Unhealthiest Dish You Can Order at a Mexican Restaurant? The unhealthiest dish you can order at a Mexican restaurant is… the chimichangas. A chimichanga is essentially a deep-fried burrito. It is a Tex-Mex dish made with a large tortilla stuffed with multiple servings of rice, beans, cheese and meat.

What are the main components of the food in Mexico? ›

Basic elements
  • Maize.
  • Chile peppers.
  • Beans.
  • Spanish contributions.

What does Mexican food usually consist of? ›

Since the pre-Columbian era, corn, squash, chile peppers, and beans have formed the base of the Mexican diet. In addition to these key staples, Mexican food makes ample use of other native American foods, including tomatoes, green tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, prickly pear cactus, chocolate, and turkey.

What are the ingredients in Mexican savory? ›

With garlic and onions as the savory cornerstone, the most common Mexican spices and herbs are coriander, allspice, cloves, thyme, Mexican oregano, Mexican cinnamon (ceylon), cumin and cacao which showcase the breadth of Mexican food.

What is the most important food in the Mexican diet? ›

At the heart of the cuisine of this beautiful country are three very important crops: corn, beans, and chilies. These native foods are cheap and widely available.

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