Soups and Stews

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Makes 6 Servings A hot bowl of chicken soup nourishes more than just our bellies, and this recipe is the perfect way to share your warmth and good cheer. Substitute vegetable broth and cooked black beans for the chicken for your vegetarian friends and family.

Breakfast and Brunch

Chilaquiles With Mushrooms

Makes 8 servings This recipe uses freshly fried tortillas, but you can substitute store-bought corn tortilla chips. Add shredded cooked chicken, grilled shrimp, or pulled pork, if you like. Ingredients 1 lb white mushrooms, sliced ¼-inch thick 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 medium white onion, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Chiles of Mexican Cuisine

Use this glossary to help identify chiles in recipes or to pick out what to try next! FRESH CHILES Anaheim (C. annuum) These light-green, rather flat-looking chiles will measure about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide, gradually tapering to a blunt end; they may have squared-off or sloping shoulders, […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Chiles: The World’s Most Versatile Fruit

Chiles are actually a fruit that belong to the genus Capsicum. Most of the chiles found in Mexico belong to the Capsicum annuum species, save for the chile manzano (C. pubescens), and the chile habanero (C. chinense). Based on archeological remains we know that chiles were being consumed over seven […]

Desserts

Churros

Makes 24 churros Ingredients 1 cup water 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 eggs, beaten Vegetable oil, as needed, for frying Directions Combine the water, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. […]

Side Dishes

Corn Tortillas

Makes 32 tortillas Homemade tortillas may not seem worth the trouble, but if you haven’t had a fresh tortilla, you are truly missing out. A super-simple mixture of masa harina, water, and a bit of salt combine to form the dough, which you can press with a tortilla press (you […]

Side Dishes

Creamy Pinto Beans

Makes 6 to 8 servings Ingredients 1 lb dried pinto beans 5 1/2 cups water 2 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions 3 ancho chiles, seeds and membranes removed 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano 2/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 garlic […]

Pantry, Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Dry Taco Seasoning

Makes 1/4 cup Keep this taco seasoning on hand for whenever you want to spice up some ground meat or sautéed vegetables for a wrap. It is lower in sodium than most packaged taco seasonings. Epazote is an herb used in Mexican cooking. It is similar to oregano, so you […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Embracing Tex-Mex Food on Cinco de Mayo

You may have heard that, for as cherished as it is in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico. Admittedly, in the US, our celebrations tend to center around the tacos rather than the Mexican army’s victory over France in the 1862 Battle of […]

Appetizers, Hors D’oeuvre, and Snacks, Side Dishes

Flour Tortillas

Makes 1 dozen Ingredients 2 cups all purpose flour 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 cup hot water, or more as needed Directions In a food processor or blender, combine the flour and butter until the flour has a texture of a coarse meal. Transfer […]