This spicy-sweet, meatless main dish is traditional Oaxacan Lenten fare. The combination of spices with fruit is characteristic of southern Mexican cooking. Lentils are one of the fastest-cooking legum... read more

This hearty stew gets its flavor from pork and a medley of vegetables. The best choice for the pork stew meat is shoulder. In Mexico, ask the butcher for espaldilla. Substitute güero chile for the xca... read more

When using lentils in a salad, it is important not to overcook them. The brown lentils typically available in Mexico retain their shape better than other varieties. Ingredients 1 cup lentils ... read more

This was the first lentil soup I tasted in Mexico many years ago, and it seems to be the most popular version in the central region, where chorizo is used in everything from eggs to tacos. The addition... read more

The bottle gourd, cucurbita Ficifolia, a rather bland member of the squash family, is common in Oaxacan cuisine, either cooked in stews, used to make a dulce something like candied pumpkin, or in this ... read more

The potato tortitas, or "patties" sold inside some of Oaxaca's markets are superb — light on the inside, with a crunchy golden crust. This variation is typical of the region from Ocotlan south to the... read more

Called simply (and fondly) "amarillo," this Oaxacan mole dish is a specialty of the Central Valleys region of this southern Mexico state. Although usually made with chicken, it is one of the few mol... read more

A traditional and delicious Mexican dish, chilmole — sometimes called relleno negro — is made from one of the classic recados, or seasoning combinations. This dish, said to have orig... read more

This recipe contains ground flax seed, an ingredient once found only in health food stores here in Mexico, but now sold in supermarkets, called semilla de linaza. read more

The complimentary flavors of pumpkin and allspice come together in this easy, satisfying dessert. It is important to use genuine vanilla extract and not the artificially flavored ones. Ingredients ... read more

This colorful alabrije rabbit by Jacobo Angeles races across the Mexican mountain meadows. © Alvin Starkman, 2008 I taught this in a cooking class I gave last summer in Cuetzalan, Puebla, where I ... read more

Pork and citrus are a good combination, and the miel de maguey adds a dimension of sweetness without overwhelming the bright flavor of the orange. Smoked pork chops are popular in Mexico, but unsmoked ... read more

These are sweet potato fries without the grease, with a taste reminiscent of Thanksgiving candied yams. In Mexico, sweet potatoes, or camotes, come in white, purple and orange. The orange-fleshed varie... read more

In Mexico, the cheesecake is more like pie, baked in a pie pan with a crust of crackers called galletas marías. In the U.S., the sweet tea crackers called Social Teas are a good substitute. Ingredien... read more

Perhaps the classic Mexican dessert, flan is found all over the country, and in Mexican restaurants the world over. This variation, Mexican chocolate flan, is a festive change from the usual egg custar... read more

Mexican coffee flan comes from the Coatepec region of Veracruz. Instant espresso powder is a boon to the dessert maker, since it dissolves easily and has an intense flavor. Ingredients For the carame... read more

This is a quick, easy and delicious dessert. Like any flan, it needs to be prepared in advance and refrigerated. There are many instant flan mixes in Mexico that are now widely used by housewives-in-a-... read more

Considered one of the classic Mexican desserts, flan takes on a far more distinctive character when prepared using fragrant vanilla beans. Mexican vanilla flan should be made one day ahead of time and ... read more

Guavas, being so plentiful in Aguascalientes, are used in several desserts. A common combination in Mexico is ate, a paste made with guava, quince, pears or other fruit, and cream cheese, served toge... read more

Honey lovers get a double dose of honey flavor in this flan, because it uses honey instead of caramelized sugar in the glaze, as well as honey in the custard. read more

This classic Mexican flan is adapted from Essential Cuisines of Mexico by Diana Kennedy, who based it on a recipe by Josefina Velazquez de Leon, who collected recipes from all over Mexico and wrote sev... read more

Spring and summer mean berry season, and this Mexican strawberry flan, made in individual custard cups, look festive garnished with a few slices of strawberry and sprigs of fresh mint. Ingredients ... read more

Here Mexico's favorite fruit combines with its favorite dessert. Sliced mango, shaved chocolate, and shredded coconut are all attractive options for garnishing this dessert. Make the mango puree by put... read more

One of young Mexico's favorite drinks, the michelada makes sense in all ways. Let's face it — you think of the ingredients and you know Mexico's got it right. A fresh and clear Mexican lager is always a must in this classic beverage. Mix it up with some lime juice and rough sea salt and you've got a winner. read more