Although Mexican food didnt originate in the United States, it has become a staple in restaurants and grocery stores across the country. Its among the top three most popular cuisines, and most people, if you ask them, will say theyve eaten some Mexican dish or another.However, much of the Mexican food in the United States veers more toward Mexican-inspired than authentically Mexican cuisine. Even popular chain restaurants nowadays offer a little something with Mexican flavor on their menu, even if the recipe isnt wholly Mexican.Despite much of the food thats offered in the United States being more inspired as opposed to authentic, there are still a handful of foods that all can agree are definitely Mexican. They are also relatively simple to make and can lend a beautiful authenticity to your next Cinco De Mayo festive gathering.
What could be easier than a recipe with just three ingredients? These homemade tortillas are crafted with golden masa harina corn flour, salt, and water. Thats it. If you want gluten-free tortillas, you can use gluten-free golden masa harina instead.Either way, these things are delicious and versatile. Simply mix your ingredients to form a firm and springy dough, and then cover it and let it rest for about an hour. Once youve allowed the dough to rest, you can fire up the griddle.Divide your dough into balls, roughly 2 inches in diameter, and then roll each one between two pieces of wax paper. Throw them on the hot griddle and let them cook until the top starts to look done. Then flip and heat the other side.They should really only take a minute or so to cook, and this recipe makes roughly 12 tortillas, 6 inches in size. Once your tortillas are done, you can use them for anything youd like: tacos, enchiladas, burritos. You can even slice them into triangles and bake them until theyre crunchy for some homemade tortilla chips.
Next on the list of authentic Mexican cuisine to die for is homemade gorditas. Gorditas are wonderful because like tortillas, you can make a big batch and then store them and use them at your leisure.They can be filled or topped with all of your favorite Mexican flavors and toppings, like carne asada, cheese, beans, chorizo, tomatoes, guacamole, salsa, sour cream . . . the skys the limit! Or at least your plate is. This recipe makes 12-14 gorditas with 20 minutes of prep time, and 6-8 minutes cooking time for each side.They are made with a base ofmasa harina corn flour, unbleached white all-purpose flour, baking powder, sea salt, and vegetable shortening. Once youve made your dough and cooked them on the griddle, slice them part way through and start filling them up with all your Mexican favorites. Serve and enjoy!
These tamales are a crowd pleaser and are made using golden masa harina corn flour. Masa is a popular Mexican ingredient used in everything from tortillas, to sopas, to pupusas to--of course--tamales.Traditionally, this dough is sold in the refrigerated section of Mexican groceries, but you can also find it as a flour that you can mix and make yourself. These tamales start with a base of golden masa harina corn flour, along with butter and shortening, sugar, green food coloring, milk, salt, and grated lime zest.Dried cornhusks are used as wrappers during the cooking process. While this may not be the easiest recipe to make, it is definitely well worth the effort if youre a tamale lover.
Finally, what Mexican fare is more delicious than enchiladas? And this easy enchilada casserole makes things . . . well, easy. This makes a great vegetarian meal for a cool fall evening or a blustery summer day.It only requires about 30 minutes of prep time, and 15-20 minutes to cook. Plus, its full of wholesome ingredients. This recipe starts with a base ofblack bean flour, pinto beans, and veggie broth. Chopped onion, chopped tomato chili powder, oregano, salt, cilantro, and Tabasco add flavor and heat.Sour cream and cheese are vital accouterments, and--of course--corn tortillas. Once you have everything ready, just layer the ingredients in your casserole dish, bake, serve, and enjoy!