Food lovers know that the Mexican table is rich in flavors, vibrant colors, and intermingling. What people eat in Mexico is the result of a millennia-old cultural fusion between the peoples of the ancient civilizations of the Aztecs, Mayans, other indigenous peoples, and colonizing European countries, such as Spain.

This fusion was so successful that in 2010, UNESCO declared Mexican cuisine an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity! This made Mexican cuisine more famous worldwide.

By delving deeper into a country's cuisine, we discover new flavors and learn more about its culture. So, come discover the main typical Mexican foods and learn the recipes!

What are the typical ingredients of Mexico?

Typical ingredients on the Mexican table are various peppers, corn, beans, avocado and meats.

History can explain the use of these typical Mexican ingredients. In fact, there are records of indigenous peoples in the region cultivating corn and chili peppers since before Christ!

Peppers were used for the same purpose they are today: to enhance flavor and add a touch of spice to dishes. This tradition is so popular that we find the spice not only in typical Mexican foods, but also in drinks, desserts, and sauces.

Corn has been the staple diet of regional peoples for millennia and is now widely used in other famous dishes, as we'll see below. It takes creativity to use it so effectively!

How to make 7 typical Mexican foods

Since this conversation might be making you hungry, let's get to the point: we've listed 7 of Mexico's main typical dishes!

Write it all down and put these wonderful recipes into practice, and of course, chill your Quetzalli while you cook. This Brazilian-Mexican fusion drink goes perfectly with this flavor-combination vibe!

1. Guacamole

Guacamole is undoubtedly one of Mexico's most famous traditional foods, and it has a very ancient history. In fact, it's believed to have been created by the Toltecs thousands of years ago.

In Brazil, this savory avocado puree gave a new use to the fruit, since here we have a tradition of using the ingredient in sweet recipes (who doesn't remember having avocado cream as a child?).

Guacamole is served as a side dish with other dishes, such as salads, nachos, meats, or sandwiches, and can be served with sour cream and pico de gallo. Since avocado is delicate, make the dish and serve immediately!

Guacamole recipe

Ingredients

• 1 medium Brazilian avocado (pay attention to the point: it should be soft when squeezed) or an avocado
• 1 large seedless tomato
• 1 small onion
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• 1 chili pepper, seeded
• juice of 1 large lemon
• extra virgin olive oil
• salt

Preparation method

Peel and mash the avocado with a fork. Add the crushed garlic, lemon juice, salt, and olive oil to taste, and mix well.

Finely chop the onion, tomato, cilantro, and pepper. Then add these chopped ingredients to the avocado puree. Ready!

2. Tortilla

Among Mexican dishes, the tortilla holds a prominent place. This is because it's versatile, designed to be the base for other dishes, such as tacos and burritos.

They're a type of bread or pancake made from wheat or corn, and can be served toasted, hot, or cold, depending on the accompaniment you choose. Let your imagination run wild when it comes to pairing this delicious delicacy!

Tortilla recipe

Ingredients

• 250g of fine corn flour
• 250g wheat flour
• 15g of salt
• 250ml of water
• 20ml of oil

Preparation method

Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl, and gradually add water until a compact dough forms.

Then add the oil and mix until smooth and let the dough rest for ten minutes.

Divide the dough into eight balls, about the size of a lemon.

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin, sprinkling a little flour on the surface to prevent sticking. Shape into thin, round discs.

In a hot frying pan without oil, over high heat, place the disc and leave until golden.

Flip the tortilla every four to five minutes to brown both sides.

3. Nachos

Nachos have become famous in American films and television series, as they are a very traditional appetizer in North America. As a result, they are among the most popular Mexican dishes around the world.

Basically, they are corn tortillas shaped like triangles and baked to make them very crispy.

They come with a variety of dishes, such as guacamole, melted cheese, sour cream, ground beef… and of course, lots of chili!

Nachos recipe

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 3 sachets of ready-made meat-flavored seasoning
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon corn flour
• 1 teaspoon hot paprika
• ½ cup of water
• Black pepper to taste

Preparation method

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and gradually add the water, stirring well until the mixture is smooth and dry. Knead the dough in the bowl until it no longer sticks to your hands.

Sprinkle flour on the surface and the dough, and roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Prick the dough all over with the tip of a fork.

Using a knife, make horizontal and vertical lines approximately 10 cm apart (like a tic-tac-toe board) and cut the squares diagonally, so that the dough is all in triangles.

Fry the triangles in batches in hot oil. Once golden brown, remove from the oil and drain in a colander. Ready!

4. Burrito

This dish is one of the best known and most popular of all typical Mexican foods, being exported to several countries.

Basically, a burrito is a rolled tortilla dough filled with a lot of filling, such as ground meat, cheese, onion, tomato, and vegetables.

Of course, the dish's versatility also allows you to let your imagination run wild and fill it however you like, after all, the dough is neutral and goes with everything!

In this recipe, we suggest one of the most traditional burrito fillings: ground beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese. For the dough, simply make the tortilla recipe or buy ready-made dough.

The combination of flavors is perfect for those who enjoy typical Mexican food!

Burrito recipe

Ingredients

• Sautéed ground beef seasoned to taste
• Lettuce in very thin strips
• Finely chopped tomato and onion
• Grated cheese

Preparation method

The filling ingredients should be layered. First, place a small portion of the meat in the center of the rolled-out dough, spreading it out to the edges. Arrange the lettuce on top.

Then add the tomato and onion, and finally the cheese. You can also add your favorite sauces or chilies.

Close the burrito by rolling up the filling and bringing each end of the dough to the opposite side.

5. Chili

This representative of typical Mexican food is a great example of the country's gastronomic fusion: it combines ground meat brought by Europeans with chili peppers, beans, and dough made with corn, ingredients grown by the local people.

The result is a very tasty meal, perfect to accompany nachos or tortillas.

Chili recipe

Ingredients

• ½ kg of ground beef
• ½ kg of cooked beans without broth
• 3 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 small green bell pepper, diced
• 1 small red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 crushed garlic cloves
• 4 tablespoons soybean oil
• 1 ready-made meat flavor seasoning tablet
• 1 liter of boiling water
• Salt and cumin to taste
• Hot sauce to taste

Preparation method

In a large pot, brown the onion and garlic in oil. Then add the ground beef and stir for 3 to 4 minutes.

Gradually add the seasonings: the ready-made seasoning cube, cumin, and chili sauce, and season to taste.

Add the tomatoes and peppers and sauté for a few more minutes. Finally, add the beans and boiling water.

Cover the pan and let it cook for approximately 20 minutes, but be careful not to overcook the beans.

6. Cochinita Pibil

For those seeking a variety of flavors among traditional Mexican dishes, cochinita pibil will please. It's a dish from the Yucatán province featuring pork marinated in orange and various seasonings, resulting in a unique flavor.

Furthermore, cochinita pibil is traditionally cooked in the oven wrapped in plantain leaves, making the ritual very special.

Just remember to heat both sides of the foil over a low heat burner before cooking. This keeps the foil pliable and prevents it from breaking apart during use.

Once prepared, the meat is preserved and can be served in tacos, tortillas or with salads.

Cochinita pibil recipe

Ingredients

• 1 kg of boneless ham
• 2 tablespoons of salt
• ½ cup of annatto paste
• 3 black peppers
• 1 teaspoon of: cinnamon, cloves, cumin and oregano.
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 liter of orange juice
• Banana leaves
• Pickled red onion
• 200g of sliced red onion
• 1 cup of vinegar
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Salt, oregano and pepper to taste

Preparation method

Season the pork leg with salt. Blend the annatto, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, oregano, garlic, and orange juice in a blender. Then, marinate the meat in the liquid for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and prepare the baking dish with the pre-heated banana leaves. Wrap the marinated meat in the leaves and bake for 2 hours.

To make the pickle, finely chop the onions and place them in a bowl with the lemon juice and vinegar. Let stand. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano to taste.

7. Pozole

This dish is one of the most popular and traditional typical Mexican foods.

It is a soup made from corn with pork or chicken, served with vegetables and other characteristic ingredients, such as onion, cheese and other delicacies.

 Our recipe also includes a green sauce to accompany it. The combination is mouthwatering!

Pozole recipe

Ingredients

• 1 kg of canned white corn (nixtamalized or choclo type)
• 500g diced pork
• 2½ liters of water
• 1 hoja santa / yerba-de-santa-maria
• ½ white onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• salt

For the green sauce:

• 500 g green tomatoes
• ½ onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 jalapeño/cuaresmeño peppers
• ½ liter of water

Preparation method

Wash and drain the corn well. Then, place the water, corn, meat, hoja santa, onion, garlic, and salt in a pressure cooker. Cook for 1 hour.

 Meanwhile, prepare the salsa verde: Place the tomatoes, onion, garlic, and seeded pepper in a saucepan with water. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, then blend and set aside.

When the corn is cooked, remove the onion, garlic, hoja santa, and meat from the pan. Add the salsa verde, adjust the salt, and cook for another 15 minutes. Add the cooked meat back in. Done!

Now that you know more about the fusion of Mexican cuisine, learn more about the fusion of tequila and passion fruit that resulted in Quetzalli.

In this post you will learn about the four ingredients of this drink that brings together the best of Brazil and Mexico!

Conclusion

As we've seen, typical Mexican foods go beyond the most well-known dishes and offer a wide variety of flavors and combinations to suit all tastes.

Since Mexican cuisine has personality and inspires new experiences, venture into the kitchen and try these recipes! You'll be amazed by all the richness Mexico has to offer!

Flavia Godoy
Former tour guide passionate about travel, culture, exciting conversations and good drinks!