Michoacán-Style Tortilla Soup: Sopa Tarasca Karen Hursh Graber

This version of tortilla soup is similar to central Mexico's Sopa Azteca. We enjoyed its warm and robust flavor after a drive over the cool mountain pass called Mil Cumbres (A Thousand Summits) from Morelia to Zitácuaro. The wooden buildings that characterize the region are called trojes, which is also the local name for small food stalls.

cheese vegetables masa soups Michoacán

Plaza-Style Chicken: Pollo Placero Karen Hursh Graber

From early evening until late at night, stands are set up in the plazas of Morelia, Pátzcuaro and other cities in Michoacan selling this popular supper. We watched women bring the different elements of this dish - chicken, vegetables and enchilada sauce - which had been pre-cooked at home, then heat them in hot oil or lard just before serving individual customers. The same thing is easy to do for guests, preparing the chicken, vegetables and enchilada sauce separately, ahead of time, and frying and assembling just before serving. Use individual oval platters if possible.

vegetables poultry masa main-dishes salsas Michoacán

Michoacán-Style Rice with Chorizo: Morisqueta con Chorizo Karen Hursh Graber

In this recipe, the rice is good first and then combined with the other ingredients, making it a good way to use leftover cooked rice. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil ¼ cup chopp... read more

meat side-dishes rice-and-grains Michoacán

Spicy Braised Pork: Puerco Estilo Apatzingan Karen Hursh Graber

The area around Apatzingan is famous for its pork. The flavor of this dish is somewhat reminiscent of the carnitas for which Michoacán is famous. Unlike carnitas, the pork is baked in the oven instead of fried in lard, and the seasoning ingredients make serving a salsa unnecessary.

pork main-dishes salsas Michoacán

Sweet Milk Curd Dessert: Chongos Zamoranos Karen Hursh Graber

This dessert is so popular in Mexico that it comes in cans, but nothing beats home made. Chongo is the Spanish word for a chignon, which the curds resemble when they separate from the whey. This dessert should be prepared in an earthenware pot such as a Mexican clay cazuela.

desserts Michoacán