10 Delicious & Authentic Cinco de Mayo Foods and the Facts

Posted: May 4, 2022 4:38 am

Cinco de Mayo falls on Saturday, May 5th this year. Cinco de Mayo is a day of celebration commemorating the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. This holiday and its accompanying festivities have become a focal point for remembering and celebrating Mexican culture while also providing an occasion for Americans to celebrate their cultural heritage. Cinco De Mayo is the perfect opportunity to own your style and show off your unique fashion sense.

Here are ten authentic Cinco de Mayo foods and facts:

1. Molé

Molé is a chocolate-based sauce that often includes nuts, raisins, and even spicy chili pepper. The recipe consists of; Ingredients 1 cup of boiling water, 1 ½ tbsp of dark cocoa powder, 3 tbsp of margarine, 2 tbsp of water, 2 tsp of salt, 4 oz. Unsweetened chocolate 4 tbsp. Honey 4. cinnamon 1 tsp cumin seeds ½ chili pepper, seeded and chopped Good-quality molé sauce is made from chocolate, an acid (such as vinegar), and fat (such as oil).

First, combine the cocoa powder with the boiling water in a large bowl; stir to dissolve the cocoa powder. Add the margarine, water, salt, and chili pepper to the bowl and mix well. Add the large blocks or chips of unsweetened chocolate; mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. The fact of Molé is that it is a thick and pasty sauce made using wheat starch instead of cornstarch. The amount of wheat starch determines how thick the sauce will be.

2. Carnitas

Carnitas are pork parts that are shredded and simmered until they are very tender. This dish is traditionally served on Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May, the day of the original battle at the Battle of Puebla. It can also be served on any Saturday after 5:00 p.m.

The recipe includes Ingredients 2lbs pork lean meat shoulder or butt, ½ tsp salt sea or kosher, a pinch of pepper, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp canola oil, 5 garlic cloves, sliced 1 small onion, chopped 2 tbsp light brown sugar Cooking a large amount of carnitas is highly efficient because the shredded meat freezes well. The fact of Carnitas is that it can take up to 24 hours to cook, but the meat eventually turns out moist and tender.

3. Barbacoa

Barbacoa is the traditional way of preparing beef and pork in Mexico. One can also make it with goat or lamb. The recipe includes: Ingredients 1 whole beef or pot roast, about 4-5 pounds (1.8kg) 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, sliced 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped (seeded and minced) 2 cups chicken stock 2 bay leaves
Barbacoa comes from the Spanish word Baca, which means cow.

This dish originated from the indigenous peoples of Mexico – specifically from the Native Americans of central Mexico. Barbacoa is a Mexican dish of various meats, in particular beef, that are roasted slowly over hot coals or an open fire. The meats used in this type of cooking are typically pork ribs, goat meat, lamb meat, and beef brisket.

4. Fish Tacos

Fish tacos are traditionally made with fried fish, usually tilapia, mahi-mahi, catfish, and deep-fried cilantro. The recipe includes: Ingredients For the Fish: 1 whole tilapia fillet, about 6oz 4 corn tortillas, 1/2 cup of chopped fresh cilantro Salsa: 1/4 cup drained and rinsed canned black beans
For the Salsa:1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tbsp sour cream 2 teaspoons minced onion 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, 3 tablespoons lime juice.

One can serve Tacos with Tomatillo-Jalapeño salsa or a sauce made from sour cream and mayonnaise. The fact of Fish Tacos is a traditional dish from Mexico, particularly the Baja California Peninsula, consisting of a fried fish fillet served in a fried corn tortilla.

5. Horchata

Horchata is an alcoholic beverage made from rice and spices. The recipe includes: Ingredients 1 cup of white rice, 2 cups of water, 3 cinnamon sticks 1/2 cup sugar 2 whole cinnamon sticks 2 whole vanilla beans 2 whole star anise Horchata is traditionally served chilled with ice cream or frozen yogurt scoop.

The fact of Horchata is that it can be enjoyed as a refreshing summer drink in Mexico and during the summertime elsewhere. Horchata can also be made at home using rice, cinnamon sticks (or other spices), and water to create a horchaty-stout beverage.

6. Mexican Street Corn

Mexican street corn is a kind of traditional Mexican street food that consists of roasted corn on the cob, salsa, and guacamole. The recipe includes Ingredients 1/2 cup of butter, 4 ears of whole sweet corn, 1/2 cup of diced red onions, about 2 large or 4 small, 8 oz sour cream, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp minced jalapeño, 1 tsp cumin seeds Salt and pepper to taste Cooking homemade Mexican street corn is easy. In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.

Add the peppers and onions and sauté until soft and browned, just like freshly fried potatoes or French fries, about 7-10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream, lime juice, jalapeño, cumin seeds, salt, and pepper. The fact about Mexican Street Corn is that it is sweet corn roasted or grilled in a way that removes the kernels from the cob. One can prepare Mexican street corn with various toppings, ranging from butter and mayonnaise to cheese and chili pepper sauce.

7. Margaritas

Margaritas are a Mexican cocktail that consists of Tequila, Triple Sec, and fresh lime juice. The recipe includes: Ingredients 1 cup of Margarita Mix Cointreau, Triple Sec 12-24 large limes, 5 cups of ice cubes, 1.5 to 2 ounces of tequila, 3 to 6 ounces Triple Sec or Cointreau Margaritas are typically served frozen or on the rocks in a tall glass with a salt-rimmed glass. Margaritas is that they are traditionally made using the triple sec brand, called Cointreau. There is also the use of crème de cassis or limoncello as an alternative to Cointreau.

8. Guacamole

Guacamole is a cold Mexican sauce or dips prepared from avocados. The recipe includes: Ingredients 4 ripe Hass avocados, pitted and peeled 1/3 cup finely chopped white onion 1 clove garlic, finely minced fine 2 tbsp diced fresh cilantro Juice of 2 limes 1/2 tsp kosher salt one can serve Guacamole with tortilla chips, tostadas, scrambled eggs, tacos, and grilled meats. One can use it topping on grilled chicken or steak sandwiches.

The fact of Guacamole is that it originated in Mexico City in the 16th century during the reign of Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. Initially, it was a sauce without tomatoes, onion, garlic, or cilantro. The Spanish conquered Mexico and introduced many dishes that would become Mexican favorites, such as the chili pepper.

9. Pozole

Pozole is a Mexican dish made with hominy, pork, and red or green chiles. The recipe includes the ingredients: Ingredients 1 pound boneless pork spareribs with or without the membrane between the ribs, 1/3 cup of ancho chile peppers in adobo sauce1/4 cup of ancho chile seeds, 2 cups of chicken stock, 3 cups of water, 2 dried ancho chiles also called pasillas, chopped fine 1 medium onion, chopped fine 2 cloves garlic, minced 5 tablespoons olive oil

The fact about Pozole is that it originated in Mexico during the 17th century when Spaniard colonizers introduced hominy to Mexico. Pozoles can be served with tortillas and topped with shredded cheese.

10. Tamales

Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish in which the main ingredient is corn dough. The recipe includes: Ingredients 2 cups masa harina 4 tablespoons cumin 1/4 cup canola oil 1/4 cup salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 cups water 3-4 tablespoons adobo sauce 5 oz shredded Monterey Jack or mild Cheddar cheese.

The fact of tamales is that they are made of cornmeal, spices, and fat, wrapped in tortillas, sometimes cut into thin strips. Although tamales are prepared in many different ways, the essential ingredients include dried corn husks, maize, or hominy, traditionally processed with a food mill and warm or refrigerated.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mexican food is very much like the culture and history of Mexico. Besides the many variations of Mexican dishes, there are many delicious foods that one can make from scratch. Some foods like tacos or tamales take hours of preparation but are worth waiting and effort. Mexican food has a unique taste, and it has so much to offer the world; there is not one Mexican dish that one can say is the most popular in Mexico. Mexicans are proud of their cuisine because it’s part of their culture and history.

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