The white variety is the onion of choice in classic Mexican cooking. Use them in both raw and cooked salsas, and grill them with peppers when making fajitas. Also popular in Mexico is the red onion, or as it is more properly called in Spanish, cebolla morada, or purple onion. Green onions, called cebollita or cebolla cambray, are a requisite component of any Mexican parillada, or meal of grilled food, whether beef, chicken, chorizos, or a mix of meat, poultry or vegetables. read more

No matter where in the world I am, I can close my eyes and conjure up the aroma of mild green onions emanating from the trucks that pass through Cholula every night on their way to the huge distributio... read more

The elements of chorizo, potatoes and onions, a classic Mexican dish for any meal at all, come together in this recipe, which makes a nice, simple dinner. All that's needed to accompany it is a salad. ... read more

The Lebanese population of Mexico, especially concentrated in Mexico City, Puebla and Veracruz, has given us jocoque, a type of thick yogurt from the Middle East, related to Greek yogurt. And it was in Spain that the industrialized production of yogurt was begun in Barcelona in 1919, when Isaac Carasso introduced a product called Danone, named for his son Danial. Danone, called Dannon in other countries, has long been the most popular brand of yogurt in Mexico. read more

Serve this very easy Mexican yogurt avocado dip with totopos (crisp fried tortillas) or tortilla chips, or with raw or steamed vegetables. Ingredients 1 ripe avocado ¾ cup yogurt ¼ ... read more

This salad has typical Mexican vegetables — calabacita (zucchini), chayote, corn and tomatoes — but the dressing could be used on any vegetable salad, such as a broccoli or bean salad, or a cobb-st... read more

Traditional Mexican beet salads nearly always pair the sweetness of beets with a savory ingredient, most often a mild white cheese, usually queso fresco. Some type of fruit is usually incorporated, with citrus being a common choice, either orange in the salad, lime in the dressing, or both. Pears, mangos and avocados are also typically used in beet salads. read more

Agua de betabel is the drink seen on the altar of Nuestra Señora de Dolores, the sorrowful mother, on the Friday before Semana Santa. I have yet to find out why beets were chosen for this particular o... read more

Mexican sweet and sour beets keep well in the refrigerator, and can be served as is for an easy botana, or added to salads. Half orange juice and half lime juice is a fine substitute for the naranja ag... read more

A lightly dressed summer salad, Mexican beet and mango salad is good with grilled chicken or fish. Make sure to use mangos that are not overripe, so that they keep their shape when cubed. read more

In Mexico, dried shrimp come in a range of sizes, from the tiny quarter-inch river shrimp to larger ones from the ocean. The tiny ones are ground into a powder, used for adding flavor and body to soups, stews and sauces, and the larger ones are usually soaked and peeled. read more

A lively accompaniment to margaritas or cold beer, this fresh Mexican salsa and dried shrimp appetizer needs to be made as close as possible to serving time. read more

I went through several versions of Mexican scrambled eggs with dried shrimp, a common dish in Oaxaca's Isthmus region, to find my favorite. In the Isthmus, it is made with camarones oreados, or partial... read more

Dried shrimp soup is a Mexican cantina classic that has fueled many a "next round." Friday afternoons are an especially good time to find this beloved soup at your friendly neighborhood watering hole. ... read more

This recipe for white beans with dried shrimp from the southern Pacific coast of Oaxaca is adapted from Susana Trilling's wonderful regional cookbook, Seasons of My Heart. Use other beans, such as fava... read more

Americans commonly mistake Cinco de Mayo, the day that commemorates the Mexican Victory over the French in Puebla (1862), for Mexican Independence day (1810). Cinco de Mayo has become an American holiday synonymous with mariachis, margaritas, Corona beer, and Americanized Mexican food like jalapeño-studded nachos and cheese-smothered burritos. read more

Some of the most thriving enterprises in the highland areas are trout farms, either run privately or as community projects undertaken by locals. Through the years, we have enjoyed fresh fish from trout farms in different regions of Mexico, where water from mountain streams feeds the ponds. read more

The taste of fresh trout is a good foil for the richness of this Mexican macadamia sauce. The recipe uses macadamias as both a sauce ingredient and a garnish. read more

Fresh tropical fruit goes nicely with the clean taste of trout in this recipe for trout with Mexican tropical fruit salsa. Wrapping food in corn husks is a quintessentially Mexican treatment, but parchment paper could be used instead. read more

Epazote is a characteristic flavor of the central region of Mexico, and especially favored in the cuisines of Puebla and Tlaxcala. It distinguishes this recipe for Mexican trout with epazote. Ingredie... read more

Al mojo de ajo literally means drenched with garlic, and Mexican trout with garlic sauce is just that. Sometimes fish prepared al mojo de ajo comes with unappetizingly large chunks of garlic, but takin... read more

Think tequila, and many think of spring break and tequila shots, followed by who knows what?

But precursors of this quintessentially Mexican drink considered a gift from the gods.

Tequila has to do with its real roots, with the land it comes from and the lifestyle surrounding it. Here are my top five tequila drinks. read more

Having written a bit about chia some years back, as part of an article on the use of seeds in Mexican cooking, I was not surprised to learn that chia seeds have been lauded as the new superfood of 2013.

Nutritionally dense, chia seeds are loaded with antioxidents, fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. They are also gluten free and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Chia seeds met the nutritional needs of early Mesoamericans, and were so valued by the Aztecs that they were considered one of the four grains acceptable as tribute to the Aztec state. read more

Ridiculously simple to make and fun to eat, this chia coconut puddingcould also be prepared with almond milk. Ingredients 4 tablespoons chia seeds 1 cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon hone... read more

Chia's natural ability to gel makes it perfect for vegans or anyone else adverse to using commercial gelatins made with animal hooves. Use any kind of fruit juice, including those that aren't available... read more