Zacatecas cowboy stew: Puchero vaquero de Zacatecas

This stew, a product of Mexico’s cattle ranches, originally utilized just about any part of the cow that was available, including the udders. It is a simple, tasty one-pot meal that reflects the lifestyle of the hard-working vaqueros, who often had to prepare their meals over a campfire. Ingredients 3 1/2 lbs. beef chuck, cut into 1″ […]

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Lasagna with Poblano Chiles In Cream: Lasagna con Rajas de Chile Poblano

We first saw this in a restaurant in Chipilo. If you like lasagna with white sauces, this one is a delicious change from the usual. The filling is the very Pueblan rajas con crema, poblano chile strips in cream, in this case thickened to form a béchamel sauce. If you use the no-boil lasagna noodles, a good […]

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Chicken tequila fettuccine: Pollo al tequila con fettuccine

This recipe is from the late Doctora Lorena Otero, good friend and “foodie” par excellence. I have seen several other versions of this dish, but this one is both the easiest and the best I have tried. Ingredients 3 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic 2 tablespoons seeded, finely chopped […]

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Linguine with cilantro: Linguine con cilantro

If you can never find ways to use an entire bunch of cilantro before it wilts in the refrigerator, search no further. Fresh cilantro is the perfect foil for the guajillo chiles in olive oil and garlic. If you can’t find guajillos, dried red California chiles are a good substitute. In the restaurant where I first tried this, it was adorned with thin […]

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Mexican Noodle Soup with Chard: Sopa de Fideos con Acelgas

Tomato-based noodle soup is one of the most common of all meal starters. This version goes a step beyond, incorporating Swiss chard for an added dimension of taste, texture and nutrition. Ingredients: 1 quart good chicken stock 2 roma tomatoes, roasted and peeled 1/2 white onion, peeled and chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled 2 tablespoons […]

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Mexican spaghetti with poblano chile and squash blossom sauce: Espagueti al poblano

Squash blossoms, in season at the same time, go well with poblano chiles. When removing the blossoms from the stems, be sure to remove the pistil as well. Ingredients 1 pound spaghetti 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 1/2 medium white onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 poblano chiles, […]

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