Mexico is a country known worldwide for its rich, colorful culture and for its tasty traditional cuisine.

When hosting a Mexican-themed party or visiting a Mexican restaurant in your hometown, have you ever felt that there could be something missing? Well, that's probably because Mexican cuisine has plenty of ingredients beyond cumin, beans and tortilla chips. There are different spices that can give your next bowl of salsa or guacamole a unique Mexican flavor.

Wow your friends this weekend, not just with everything you've learned on your online Spanish lessons, but also by whipping up some delicious, authentic Mexican dishes!

Tomatillos


Tomatillos
(Photo credit: shewearsmanyhats.com)
These small, green, tomato-like vegetables are the reason why salsa verde (green sauce) is called that way, and it's featured in a variety of Mexican sauces and dishes, like the famous enchiladas suizas. Salsa verde is very easy to make and it doesn't have to be very spicy; that will depend on the type and quantity of chili peppers you use.

Oregano


Oregano
(Photo credit: ar.all.biz)
Two main types of oregano are used in kitchens all over the world: Mediterranean and Mexican. Of course, the one we believe is essential in every kitchen is the dried Mexican oregano, an entirely different plant from the Mediterranean kind. Mexican oregano is used to flavor beans, enchiladas, soups, tomato-based salsas, pork, fish and more.



Want to speak Spanish confidently and fluently?


CLAIM YOU FREE SKYPE LESSON NOW





Epazote


Epazote
(Photo credit: thespruceeats.com)
This aromatic herb has been an essential ingredient of Mexican food since the Aztecs used it to season corn, fish and beans. When smelling epazote, some people can identify small hints of citrus, mint, oregano or anise. Its taste is so unique that it cannot be replaced with any other herb or ingredient in a recipe. Epazote is frequently used to season beans, soups, corn-based dishes, mushrooms and eggs.

Skype Spanish Lesson free

Cheese


Queso_Oaxaca
(Photo credit: eligenutricion.com)
Our traditional cuisine would definitely not be the same without this ingredient, which, frankly, can be said about many other cultures.

Some of our most popular types of cheese are:
Queso Oaxaca -- a semi-soft ball of cheese that you must tear off into little strands, with a taste similar to Monterrey cheese.
Queso Cotija -- it has a strong and salty flavor, with a sharp smell and a texture similar to Parmesan. Cotija can be used as a topping for enchiladas or tostadas.
Queso fresco -- literally "fresh cheese", it's creamy and soft. You can eat it rolled up in a tortilla or crumbled on top of enchiladas.

Tomato


Salsa_roja
(Photo credit: kiwilimon.com)
Just like tomatillo, tomato is a basic ingredient in a wide variety of sauces. After all, when ordering Mexican food, you'll always be faced with the question: "¿salsa roja o salsa verde?" (red or green sauce?). Even though they taste different, both are equally delicious. Tomato gives salsa roja its red color and the green, ripe tomatillo does the same for salsa verde but, which one is hotter? Truth is, it's not about the color of the sauce but the peppers you add to it.

Chili peppers


Chiles
(Photo credit: mexicofoodandmore.com)
Possibly the most famous Mexican ingredient around the world, chili peppers are the ones that give salsas and mole their spicy and unique flavor. Pasilla, chipotle, guajillo, habanero and jalapeño are some of our most popular peppers. They are all different but each of them has a rich flavor, which makes them a versatile ingredient that can be found in a myriad of sauces and even as the star of dishes like rajas con crema and chiles rellenos.

Nopales


Nopales
(Photo credit: cocinadelirante.com)
Widely used in salads, soups, inside quesadillas or as a side dish to meats, nopales come from the cactus plant; they contain a lot of water and are also very rich in vitamins and minerals. Nopales can be eaten raw or cooked. In Mexican markets, it's very common to find them already cleaned and/or chopped.

Avocado


Guacamole
(Photo credit: minhasdelicias.com)
Does this one even need an introduction? Avocado, or aguacate, as it's called in Mexico, has become a very popular fruit (yes, a fruit) around the world. It can be added to hundreds of dishes, such as salads, sandwiches, pasta and more. Mexicans eat it as a topping on pretty much everything, but its most famous presentation is in guacamole, an avocado-based spread that may cost you a little extra in some restaurants (it's worth it, though!)

Avocados contain nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, and thanks to their creamy texture and healthy fats it's a great substitute for baking. In fact, its popularity has grown so much that there's even ice cream, bread and soups made with avocado.

Skype Spanish Lesson free

Corn tortillas


Tortillas
(Photo credit: demoslavueltaaldia.com)
Chilaquiles, tostadas, nachos, enchiladas, tacos and chips... What do they all have in common? Tortillas, the base of many Mexican dishes.

Tortillas have been in the Mexican diet for thousands of years and were originally made with corn, a plant considered by our ancestors as sacred. Although flour tortillas are now almost as ubiquitous, their main ingredient was introduced by the Spanish after colonization.


After reading about all of these delicious foods, do you feel like heading to the supermarket and buying the necessary ingredients for a great Mexican dish? What would you like to cook?

Enchiladas
(Photo credit: cocinadelirante.com)