This soup is comforting, delicious, and incredibly healthy. What more could you ask for? Oh yes, you can ask for it not to be watery, and this one isn't, thanks to the inclusion of chia seeds. Ingredi... read more

Fish filets in Mexican hoja santa is a specialty of Veracruz, where hoja santa is often called acuyo. It combines the fresh seafood for which Veracruz is famous with the anise-scented herb that grows a... read more

Achiote paste, a characteristic seasoning of the Yucatan, where it is known as recado rojo, has been discussed before in this column. Made from the seed of the annatto tree ground with cumin, cloves an... read more

Yucatecan style quail, typical of the Mexican state of Yucatan, uses a recado, one of the spice pastes that distinguish the region's cuisine. This recipe can also be used with chicken or turkey, inc... read more

Pipian, made with ground chiles and seeds, is usually served with chicken. Duck makes it an elegant dish to serve dinner guests and is especially suitable in the cooler months. This column has featured... read more

he Mexicans, like the Chinese, have created some wonderful dishes combining pork with fruit. Pork tenderloins with guavas is an example of the inventiveness of nouvelle Mexican cuisine. Escalopas de cerdo con guayabas have the same sweet-and-sour tanginess of many oriental dishes. read more

Fresh herbs make all the difference in this recipe for Mexican rabbit with wine and herbs, and dried ones should not be substituted. In Mexico, fresh herbs are available in most markets, but people oft... read more

Chiles rellenos — poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, covered with beaten egg whites and fried — are a perennial Mexican favorite. They are served in a savory tomato broth. Ingredients 2 c... read more

This chicken with fruit sauce is considered one of the most typical dishes of Aguascalientes, traditionally served at the San Marcos Fair and sometimes called "Pollo de San Marcos." The 20th century Me... read more

This seasonal adaptation of a traditional manchamanteles — "tablecloth stainer" — uses the fall season's apples and pears instead of the usual pineapple; sweet potatoes instead of plantains; prunes... read more

Nochebuena is Christmas Eve, and that is when Mexican families sit down to a feast that usually lasts for several hours. This recipe for Mexican stuffing for Christmas turkey is adapted from Alquímias... read more

This is referred to as a tart in Mexico, although, having two crusts, it is more like a pie made with tart dough. It makes a good lunch or light supper, with a soup or salad. The recipe is adapted from Larousse de la Cocina Mexicana by Alicia Gironella De'Angeli and Giorgio D'Angeli. read more

Mexican beef chichilo is probably the least known of Oaxaca's moles. It is one of the only instances where nearly burning the chile gives an intense, smoky taste to the finished product. Pilar Cabrera ... read more

The filling in this Mexican yucca meat pie is a classic picadillo, but ground chicken or turkey could be used, or chopped vegetables such as squash could be added or used without meat for a vegetarian ... read more

The preparation of this Mexican yucca pudding dessert is the same as for flan, coating the pan with caramelized sugar and baking in a baño maria, or bain marie. For the caramel: Place ¾ cup of suga... read more

Quinoa, the subsistence grain of the ancient Incas, is a good source of dietary fiber and high quality protein. When combined with black beans, it is a nutritional powerhouse. This Mexican black bean a... read more

Who doesn't like chiles rellenos? They don't have to be battered and fried to taste good, and this oven-baked version is flavorful without being a blast of fat. For non-vegetarians who get mopey withou... read more

This protein-packed power brunch could probably be called a "deconstructed" version of Mexico's classic huevos rancheros. In this Mexican quinoa and eggs ranchero recipe, the whole beans take the place... read more

I like this Mexican quinoa vegetable soup with homemade chicken stock, but vegetable stock works well, too. The chopped cilantro, avocado and queso fresco garnishes should not be overlooked. Ingredien... read more

Plantains, called plátano macho in Spanish, play an important role in the diet of southern Mexicans. They should not be used in cooking until ripe, at which point they will be nearly black all ov... read more

This is my own adaptation of a popular Mexican street food, fried plantains topped with sweetened condensed milk. This dressed-up version — plaintains with vanilla cream — uses whipped cream flavor... read more

This variation on traditional machuca uses crispy chicharrones (pork cracklings), which give a good texture to the dish and impart the taste of pork without having to use the traditional lard. A cousi... read more

This recipe is adapted from Alquímias y Atmósferas del Sabor, by Doña Carmen Titita Ramírez, proprietress of Mexico City's famed El Bajío restaurant. The plantains should be cooked a day in advanc... read more

This delicious soup from the Yucatan uses half-ripe plantains, meaning green and yellow, not black and yellow. Use vegetable broth to make it vegetarian, if desired, and add more broth for a thinner Yu... read more

These crunchy plantain fritters, or "little Mexican spiders," made with shredded green plantains, remind me of a crispy version of hash brown potatoes or potato latkes. Be sure to use unripe plantains,... read more