Why You Should Try New Methods of Cooking Mexican Cuisine

Some cooking methods used in Mexico may be familiar to you already, but there are a few with which you may be less familiar. You have probably fried, boiled, and grilled lots of meals, but have you ever tried a steaming bucket? Do you know what a molcajete is?

Steaming is often used in Mexican cooking. A dish known as barbacoa is steamed. The meat is wrapped in a banana or cactus leaf before being suspended over a boiling pot in a deep pit to steam. Steaming buckets were used to steam tamales. This popular Mexican dish is made of a filling surrounded by masa, which is wrapped in corn husks. Special kettles are now made to make tamales that can cook many at the same time. Sweating is a technique used to skin fresh chilies. Onions and chilies are often soaked to help remove some of their heat. When soaked in milk or a combination of water and vinegar, the chilies become milder in flavor. They need to soak from 30 to 60 minutes.

You are still thinking about the molcajete, are not you? A molcajete is a mortar and pestle. This is a small tool used to grind herbs, spices, and grains. When a lot of corn needed to be ground up, Mexican families would use a metate y mano. This was a large stone with a smooth, slightly concave face. Today, many families buy masa already ground up, but some families still do this task in the traditional way.

Boiling and simmering are often used in Mexican cuisine. Meat and vegetables are often placed into a pot to cook all day long. At the end of the day, the meat is so tender it just falls apart. This is perfect for shredded beef tacos, carnitas, and other dishes.

Grilling is a popular method of cooking in Mexico. The open flame adds so much flavor to the dish. Many meats are marinated in spices and peppers and then grilled so they can be used in various recipes. Grilling and roasting increases the flavor of tomatoes, garlic, onions, chilies and tomatillos. The flame kisses the ingredients, caramelizing the sugars and creating delicious flavors.

Stewing is an old fashioned cooking method that has been used in Mexico for centuries. Stewing requires long cooking times to be done properly. Sometimes they cook the meats and vegetables separately and mix them together at a later point. Stewing can be done in a Dutch oven or in a traditional 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.

Article Source: http://www.yournetadvisor.com

Mexican food makes a great change from our usual staples and if you want to surprise your family with something deliciously different tonight. Mexican food is nutritious and flavorful and sure to be a family favorite. easy Mexican recipes are as easy to make as they are tasty. As the mom of four boys Mexican food is a favorite in our home. www.MexicanFoodRecipes.org When it has to be Real Authentic Mexican Food

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