Veracruz-style black beans: Frijoles negros a la veracruzana Karen Hursh Graber

The small, distinctively-flavored black beans of Veracruz which so charmed the tastebuds of the early Spanish settlers are still famous throughout Mexico for their high-quality, tenderness and taste. The method of preparation is typical of the eastern coastal area of the country. read more

vegetarian side-dishes beans-and-legumes Veracruz

Mexican cowboy beans: Frijoles charros Karen Hursh Graber

A Norteño dish originating in Tamaulipas, this is the classic accompaniment to the grilled beef dishes of northern Mexico. It is an ideal make-ahead dish, especially good with barbeque, improvi... read more

vegetables pork side-dishes beans-and-legumes Tamaulipas

Fabulous frijoles: Mexico's versatile legumes Karen Hursh Graber

When asked by the New York Times magazine to write about the most important contribution of the past millennium, Italian author Umberto Eco chose the humble bean. In How the Bean Saved Western Civiliza... read more

food-drink history

Adobo: a Mexican seasoning sauce for shrimp, chicken, rabbit or meat Karen Hursh Graber

Adobo is a traditional seasoning sauce and arinade based on the chile ancho. This recipe was given to me by Estela Salas Silva. Having learned the culinary arts from her grandmother, Chef Doña Eulogia... read more

salsas

Beef roullades in green mole: Bistec relleno con mole verde Karen Hursh Graber

Ingredients: For the beef roullades: thinly sliced beef raw bacon and ham, sliced into strips raw potato, cut french fry style string beans cut into 1" pieces ... read more

vegetables pork meat mole-and-pipian

Traditional Mexican cooking school in Tlaxcala: An interview with recipes Karen Hursh Graber

September is back-to-school time, so what more fitting topic for this month's Mexico Kitchen column than a Mexican cooking school? One of the questions most frequently asked by readers concerns the ava... read more

food-drink Tlaxcala

Mexico's wild mushrooms, gifts of the rainy season: Huitlacoche Karen Hursh Graber

Rain brings a more astounding variety than ever to the bounty in the markets. Corn and fresh chiles are stacked high, along with a number of herbs, both familiar and less well-known. Among the tastiest of the season's offerings are the wild mushrooms, some of which are known as setas. read more

cuisines food-drink Puebla

Watermelon water: Agua de sandia Karen Hursh Graber

Succulent watermelon tempts shoppers in a Mexican tianguis, or traveling street market. A favorite with kids, this drink is similiar in preparation to the one made with cantaloupe. However, because ... read more

fruit beverages

Mexico's delicious fresh fruit drinks: Aguas frescas Karen Hursh Graber

The beverages known in Mexico as aguas frescas are an inspired compliment to the rich melding of chiles, herbs and spices found in Mexican food. They act to counter-balance strong flavors and are always light, never cloying. Aguas frescas function somewhat like sorbets, in that they refresh the palate. read more

food-drink

Pasta salad with jalapeno vinaigrette: Coditos con salsa Karen Hursh Graber

This is a great side dish to serve with grilled meat, chicken or fish. It's quick and easy to put together at the last minute, or it can be made up to one day ahead and refrigerated. If making it ahead... read more

pastas main-dishes vegetarian salads salad-dressings

A culinary guide to Mexican herbs: Las hierbas de cocina, Part Two Karen Hursh Graber

Last month's column contained a list of Mexican culinary herbs - some as well-known as cilantro, and others a bit more esoteric - and their uses. This month's column contains recipes usin... read more

conversions food-drink

From New Spain to nouvelle cuisine: Pasta mexicana Karen Hursh Graber

As anyone who has ever eaten a comida corrida - the "daily special" at restaurants in Mexico - knows, the course called sopa seca will either be a plate of rice or some shape of pasta wit... read more

food-drink

A culinary guide to Mexican herbs: Las hierbas de cocina Karen Hursh Graber

Spring is the season of renewal, evident in the green buds poking up through the warming earth and, here in Mexico, symbolized by the wheat sprouts that adorn altars during Easter week. For many people... read more

conversions food-drink

Mexican seafood: Pescados y mariscos Karen Hursh Graber

During the winter months, Mexico's varied and beautiful coastal waters yield an unsurpassed assortment of delicacies from the sea. This is when pescados y mariscos — fish and shellfi... read more

seafood main-dishes soups

Sweet treats from Mexico: Los dulces Karen Hursh Graber

Dulces típicos — traditional Mexican candies — for sale in a street market
© Daniel Wheeler, 2010

Mexico's vast array of dulcerías (candy stores) panaderías (bakeries) pastelerías and bizcocherías (shops that feature displays of enormous, intricately decorated cakes for special occasions) all give testimony to the national sweet tooth. I have been in pueblos so small that there is only one phone in town, but there always seems to be a dulcería with a great variety of candies stacked to the ceiling. read more

desserts candies

Mexico's irresistible bakeries and breads: Las panaderias Karen Hursh Graber

Como pan caliente - "like hot bread"- is the expression used in Mexico to indicate something that is popular, best selling, or in demand. And indeed, going for hot bread is one of the daily culinary ro... read more

side-dishes

Savory dinner loaves: Mochos Karen Hursh Graber

These elegant loaves, mildly flavored with onion and garlic, reflect the sophistication that the French influence brought to Mexican baking. They are served as an accompaniment to the cream soup course... read more

breads side-dishes

French rolls: Bolillos Karen Hursh Graber

These crispy- crusted rolls, a favorite with foreign visitors to Mexico, are also known as tortas, after the hefty sandwiches that are often made with them, and teleras when they are scored in three se... read more

breads

The Hungry Traveler Reviewed by Karen Hursh Graber

The Hungry Traveler: Mexico by Marita Adair (Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City) Available from Amazon Books: Paperback You are famished. After hours on the Mexican high... read more

book-reviews food-drink

The cuisine of Tlaxcala: food and tradition in central Mexico Karen Hursh Graber

Tiny Tlaxcala may be Mexico's smallest state but it is one of the most quintessentially Mexican in its traditions, especially in the realm of cuisine. The same artistic flair with which the people of t... read more

cuisines fiestas-traditions food-drink index-page Tlaxcala

Harvest cornpatch soup: Sopa de milpa Karen Hursh Graber

Milpa means "cornfield," and this soup incorporates not only corn, but a medley of other Tlaxcalan produce abundant at this time of year. Although fresh nopales are preferable, they are availabl... read more

vegetables main-dishes soups rice-and-grains Tlaxcala

Meat steamed in maguey leaves: Mixiotes Karen Hursh Graber

The word mixiotes refers to one of the most delectable dishes within the wide spectrum of Mexican cooking, as well as the wrapping used to contain these steamed individual meat stews. This wrap... read more

vegetables poultry main-dishes salsas

The cuisine of Puebla, cradle of corn Karen Hursh Graber

The creative blending of diverse ingredients is the hallmark of Mexican cooking, and in the state of Puebla it is a passion. Everywhere there is talk of food. People give detailed accounts of what they... read more

cuisines food-drink index-page Puebla

Chicken in green mole: Pollo en mole verde Karen Hursh Graber

A mole is a stew which incorprates ground chiles, seeds, and sometimes nuts. The basis of a mole verde is the tomate verde, called a "tomatillo" north of the border. In Mexi... read more

poultry main-dishes mole-and-pipian

Stuffed chiles in walnut sauce: Chiles en nogada Karen Hursh Graber

There are probably about as many recipes for this dish as there are cooks in Puebla, where it originated. It is always associated with September, el mes patrio, because it features the red, whit... read more

vegetables fruit pork meat main-dishes

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