The state of Chiapas is part of the Southern Mexico Region, along with the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. About 20% of the population of Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state, belong to one or other of the state’s numerous indigenous groups, which include various Maya groups and the Lacandon Indians. Chiapas’s tourist sector is based on […]
Continue ReadingChiapas style beef with cabbage is quick, easy, inexpensive and satisfying. And did I say versatile? It can be served with rice, used as a filling for stuffed chiles, or a topping for tostadas. Adapted from Essential Cuisines of Mexico by Diana Kennedy. Ingredients 1 pound lean ground beef 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black […]
Continue ReadingSomewhat akin to the manchamanteles of Oaxaca and Puebla, this Chiapan main dish typically uses very little chile. Instead it is characterized by the sweet and tart contrast of the vinegar marinade and the fruit. Ingredients: 1 chicken, cut into serving pieces ¼ cup grated onion 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and mashed in a […]
Continue ReadingA juicy pork filling, flavored with spices, makes these substantial Chiapas style pork empanadas a good lunch or late supper dish. Any leftover roast meat would be good here. The dough is traditionally made with pork lard, though butter works well. To coarsely grind the spices as called for, I put them together in a […]
Continue ReadingAlthough the mention of Chiapas frequently brings to mind images of masked revolutionaries and steamy jungles, Mexico’s southernmost state is a beautiful combination of mountains, plains and seacoast where tourism is once again flourishing as people rediscover the wonders of a region with deep pre-Hispanic routes. Long before the Europeans advanced into Chiapas from the […]
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November 1, All Saints Day, and November 2, All Souls Day, are marked throughout Mexico by intriguing customs that vary widely according to the ethnic roots of each region. Common to all, however, are colorful adornments and lively reunions at family burial plots, the preparation of special foods, offerings laid out for the departed on […]
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The state of Guerrero is part of the Southern Mexico Region, along with the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. The inland city of Chilpancingo is the state capital, but the state’s most famous city is Acapulco, the major, long-established tourist resort on the Pacific coast. The tourist town of Taxco, in the mountains of the […]
Continue ReadingBelow are selected articles and recipes from Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca, the three states that form the Southern Mexico Region. To see ALL articles and recipes related to this region, please use the following individual state links: Chiapas – Articles / Recipes Guerrero – Articles / Recipes Oaxaca – Articles / Recipes In socio-economic terms, […]
Continue ReadingPerhaps the most distinctive characteristic of Oaxaca is the tremendous difference between one region of the state and another. The sierras which crisscross it form natural boundaries between enclaves of culture which have existed since pre-Hispanic times. One of the most unique and charismatic of these is a group known as istmeños, inhabitants of the Isthmus of […]
Continue ReadingAlthough many of the recipes I try come from friends, market salespeople, food stand cooks and restaurant chefs in many parts of Mexico, there is nothing like a good cookbook for inspiration, especially when it comes to putting together different courses to create a harmonious meal. To me, the very best of Mexican cooking is […]
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