Mexico shares many cooking methods with other parts of the world, but they do have a few that you may not be familiar with. Like you, they fry, boil, and grill. But have you ever tried a steaming bucket? Have you tried a molcajete?
Steaming is an important part of Mexican cooking. Barbacoa is a dish made by steaming meat by suspending it over water that is boiling in a pit. The meat is usually wrapped in banana or cactus leaves. A steaming bucket was used to cook tamales. The steam keeps the masa coating moist and delicious. Today, of course, they can use special kettles made to cook many tamales at the same time. Sweating was a method used to skin fresh chilies that would be used as stuffing or cut into strips to be added to any number of recipes. Soaking was done to onions and chilies to make them milder. Soaking in water and vinegar or milk for 30 to 60 minutes will help neutralize the heat.
What about the molcajete? A molcajete is a small mortar and pestle used to grind ingredients like herbs or corn. A larger version, known as a metate y mano, is made of stone. It has a slight concave surface on which to grind corn. Before corn masa could be purchased, every family used one of these to prepare their own masa.
Simmering and boiling are techniques often used in Mexican cuisine. Meat is simmered all day long until it is so tender it falls apart. The meat is then used in tacos, carnitas, and many other recipes. Without the long cooking time in water, the meat would not have the texture it needs to be authentic.
Of course grilling is a method often used in Mexican cooking. Cooking over an open flame adds a lot of flavor to both meat and vegetables. Meat is often marinated first in chilies and spices. Grilling and roasting are great methods to increase the flavor of ingredients like onions, tomatoes, garlic, and chilies. The sugars become caramelized and add a huge boost of flavor.
Stewing is a traditional method of cooking that has been used in Mexico since time immemorial. The long cooking times needed for proper stewing were common. At times, the vegetables and meats were cooked separately and then combined for further simmering before serving. Today, this is often done in a Dutch oven. In days gone by, this was done in a clay cazuela.
There are so many easy Mexican recipes that you can use to experiment with these methods of cooking in your own kitchen. Practice makes perfect, as they say! Do not be afraid to make mistakes now and then. Research a bit about the different cooking methods and adapt them to your family’s needs. Learning new cooking techniques can not only make you a better cook, it can be lots of fun to try out the new recipes!
As you can see, there is so much to learn about Mexican foods. Their cooking methods of developing the delicious flavors in the food make this a never ending topic of interest for many.
It is no secret that the world is in love with Mexican food. From grilled fajitas to steaming hot enchiladas, rich and creamy hot chocolate with cinnamon and aromatic Mexican tortilla soup, just the thought of these delicious Mexican recipes is enough to make everyone’s mouth water with anticipation!
