What do people eat in Mexico?

Warning: don't read the next few lines if you're hungry! In this article, we're going to tell you about delicious dishes that might just make you want to plan your next vacation to Mexico ;) Indeed, this country carries within it a rich and still too little-known culinary heritage. On the blog, we like to compare our French prejudices to the Mexican reality, which is often quite different. And, as you'll have understood, food is no exception to the rule when it comes to preconceived ideas.

Recognition of Mexican cuisine

When we eat Mexican food in France, our choice generally falls on chili con carne or fajitas… Which are not actually Mexican dishes! They come to us from the United States and particularly from Texas, a state known for “Tex-Mex,” which mixes American cuisine with Mexican influences linked to its geographical proximity to the country.

This confusion is regrettable, because Mexican gastronomy is much broader than that, as chef Margarita Carrillo sought to demonstrate in 2010, when she managed to have it listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage site. Alongside French cuisine, Mexican cuisine was even the first to appear on this list. A true recognition that we would like to highlight here, and which supports the whole interest in Mexico from a cultural point of view. You will discover: food is a serious subject, since it is a heritage!

The place of cuisine in Mexico

If you've ever had the chance to visit Mexico, then you know how much food is an integral part of Mexican identity. The best way to gauge this? Wander through a local market and indulge in the street food, which showcases the culinary traditions of the region you're visiting. Because from one place to another in Mexico, you won't taste the same flavors, and that's exactly why Mexican cuisine has been so popular over the past fifteen years: the discovery is as exhilarating as it is endless (or almost).

At home, food also plays a fundamental role in family life. Recipes are passed down from generation to generation and draw their uniqueness from the history of the place: a blend of pre-Columbian and Spanish origins. Eating is a journey back in time, to an ancient era when corn tortillas, the equivalent of our French bread, were made by hand. The Mexican table consists of staple foods such as avocados, beans, tomatoes, and chili peppers. It evolves according to the seasons and traditions. For example, during the Day of the Dead, a small sweet brioche called "pan de muerto" is made.

In short, when traveling to Mexico, there are plenty of options when it comes to dining! You can therefore opt for a sure thing like the iconic tacos to savor in a local taqueria, or offer a real adventure to your taste buds by going off the beaten track with our top 5 Mexican dishes to try ;)

Chilaquiles

During our trip to Mexico in 2022, we were intrigued by this savory breakfast dish. Being more accustomed, like good French people, to starting the day with something sweet, chilaquiles greatly helped wake us up because yes, Mexicans are not afraid to slip some hot sauce onto their plate first thing in the morning! To best describe this dish, imagine tortilla chips (called "totopos") covered with sour cream, crumbled cheese, a fried egg, onion pickles, and green or red salsa.

Tamales

If you're traveling to Mexico with your kids , here's a dish they're sure to love. Wrapped like a papillote in a corn or banana leaf, tamales contain a savory or sweet stuffing, the ingredients of which vary depending on the region. Indeed, there are a multitude of different recipes for tamales, a dish reinterpreted throughout the country and inherited from pre-Hispanic civilizations. They are cooked with steam to preserve the maximum quality of the food they contain. A small warning, however: the casing is not edible, only the stuffing is eaten.

The tortas

If Americans have burgers, Mexicans have tortas! A popular dish par excellence, you can find it right on the street, at specialty stands. The torta is a sandwich that stands out thanks to its soft bread and its ultra-generous filling, made with pork or beef, cheese, avocado, chili pickles... Perfect for a quick lunch break, just like Mexican schoolchildren who love them.

The mole poblano

Be careful, this dish is for those who are not afraid of anything ;) Mole poblano is a sauce from Puebla, a city located 1h30 by car from Mexico City. If we absolutely wanted to tell you about it in this article, it's because it's the result of a rather original mixture: cocoa and chili pepper... But not only that! Indeed, in the case of the so-called "authentic" recipe, we are close to the record of 30 ingredients mixed to obtain the final result, and several days of preparation. We therefore strongly advise you to try this dish if you are passing through Mexico, because its preparation at home is somewhat restrictive.

The champurrado

Given the date we're writing this article, we could really use a champurrado to warm us up! If you've had the opportunity to go on a school trip to Spain and enjoy "chocolate con churros" for breakfast, that should already give you a little clue as to what we're going to talk about. Indeed, champurrado is the equivalent of our hot chocolate, with a few differences: it's thickened with corn dough, giving it an extremely comforting creamy texture. Cinnamon is also added for a spicy touch, as well as vanilla for a delicious touch. Originally prepared with water rather than milk, it's one of Mexico's oldest drinks. Its consumption dates back to the Aztec era and it was originally served during traditional celebrations . A little tip from the team: enjoy it like the Mexicans (and the Spanish), accompanied by delicious churros.

We hope this blog post about Mexican food has made your mouth water and, as always, we invite you to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with our news!