Cooking in the Yucatan: bright flavors and unique ingredients

One of the regions of Mexico most indelibly fixed in my mind is the Yucatan, probably because the sights, sounds, flavors and aromas are so sensual that they create truly visceral memories. When my husband and I reminisce about our journeys throughout Mexico, especially the long road trips taken in our trusty old Ford pickup, […]

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Tomatillo and tomato salsa: Salsa de tomate y jitomate

Dried chiles, tomatoes and tomatillos come together in a versatile sauce that serves as a table salsa or a condiment for meat or chicken. This recipe is adapted from the Larousse de la Cocina Mexicana. Ingredients: 3 cascabel chiles, fried lightly in oil, seeded and deveined 2 ancho chiles, fried lightly in oil, seeded and deveined […]

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Mexican grilled chicken with chipotle beer marinade: Pollo a la parilla con chipotle y cerveza

Beer is a great addition to marinades for grilled chicken. Here, the beer and chipotle lend a distinctive taste to the traditional Sonoran roadside-style grilled chicken. If the weather is too cool for grilling, use the broiler. Chicken is a nice empty canvas for the assertive flavor of this marinade. Ingredients 1 cup dark Mexican […]

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Artichoke, poblano chile and onion gratin: Alcachofas gratinadas con chile poblano y cebolla

Fresh or frozen artichoke hearts are good sautéed, and even better with poblano chiles and green onions. This is a tasty side dish with a simple main, such as chicken cutlets. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, sliced into thin crescents (lunitas) 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 medium poblano chiles, roasted, peeled, seeded […]

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Pork in Green Pipian: Puerco en Pipián Verde

After poultry, pork is the most popular meat to serve in pipián sauces, and goes particularly well with green pipián, where the fresh green chiles and herbs counterbalance the richness of pork. Made with vegetable broth instead of meat or poultry broth, pipián verde makes a good vegetarian dish. Cut into large chunks and cooked in broth or roasted in the […]

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A Meal in a Sandwich: Tortas, Cemitas, Pambazos

For months after we moved to Mexico several years ago, my favorite place to eat here in Cholula was a hole-in-the-wall tortería called Tortas Alex. Although a Mexican torta goes far beyond what is normally described as a sandwich – it was something delicious, satisfying and comforting when we needed it most. This was long before tortas […]

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