Country Background
With a population of 127,276,000, Mexico has become the third largest country in Latin America (Cline et al., 2021). Climatic conditions are influenced by its vast size, elevation, and topographic diversity. Most of the country’s precipitation comes from maritime air masses, and temperature varies only by 5 degrees between the coolest and warmest seasons (Cline et al., 2021).
Mexico is a confederate of 31 states, and Mexico City acts as the Federal District, with governmental powers shared between the judiciary, executive, and legislative (Cline et al., 2021). The country is a hotpot of culture as there are many ethnic groups and races. Since it supports the separation of church and state, there is no official religion. However, over four-fifths of citizens are affiliated with the Roman Catholic church, making Christianity the mainstream religion.
The main economic driver is the services industry, contributing the largest share of Mexico’s GDP.
Lentil Tacos
Lentil Tacos are primarily a vegetarian dish made for dinner or lunch. The basic ingredients are tacos, lentils, salsa, and seasonings, but chefs can add a twist to make each serving unique and special (Dave, 2019).
Recipe: This recipe presumes that the salsa, tacos, lentils, and seasonings are ready. You can make these from scratch or buy them from grocery stores. Heat oil in a pan, add onions and fry until soft; add garlic and lentils. After stirring well, add the seasoning and water and continue stirring. Cook until all the water has evaporated and it is ready for use. Follow packet instructions to prepare taco wraps or shells in the oven for 2 or 3 minutes. When layering, begin with the lentils, followed by cheese, salsa, sliced tomatoes, and salad. (Dave, 2019)
Polo Asado
The Mexican grilled chicken is unique for its flavor, which is achieved through margination. The marinade often comprises “olive oil, citrus juices, vinegar, garlic, sazon, achiote, paprika, oregano, cumin, red pepper flakes and a bit of salt and pepper” (Mike, 2021).
Recipe: Prepare the marinade and marinate the chicken pieces for one to three hours in the refrigerator. Take out the chicken for grilling while preserving the marinade for later use. Grill for five minutes on each side and set it for baking. The oven should be heated to 450 degrees F, and roasting will last for around 20 minutes until it reaches 165 degrees F. when ready, top with onions, guacamole, cilantro, and other preferred toppings. (Mike, 2021)
Alambre
This meat dish is served with a variety of foods and has many variations as any type of meat can be used ((Martinez, 2019).
Recipe: This recipe uses Top Sirloin steak, bacon, tortillas, seasonings, and cheese. Season the chopped meat and set it aside. Preheat a skillet over medium heat until it is hot, and put in the bacon. Fry until it begins to release fat, then add the steak and stir together. After around six minutes, add onions and pepper, and other spices, and cook for four more minutes. Cover the meat with cheese and remove from heat when it begins to melt. (Martinez, 2019)
Beverages
Agua Frescas are the main native beverage in Mexico. They are made of water, sugar, fruits, grains, seeds, and added ice cubes.
Horchata recipe: soak rice and cinnamon sticks in whole milk and condensed sweetened milk, which is dissolved by some warm water. When at room temperature, the mixture is refrigerated for two to 12 hours. Remove cinnamon sticks, separate rice, and preserve the liquid mixture. Blend rice with some of the liquid until all the grains are liquefied. When all grit is blended, pour into a glass, and serve with ice cubes. (Cullen, 2021)
Jamaica recipe: put hibiscus leaves in cold water and heat to boiling, then simmer for around ten minutes. Turn off the heat and wait until the leaves drop to the bottom, showing that steeping is complete. Strain to remove the leaves and leave a concentrate that is diluted with water, sweetened, and served with ice cubes. (Cullen, 2019)
Breakfast Foods
Mexicans opt for tamales when in need of a light breakfast. The masa is prepared using lard instead of oil to make the end product creamier. The filling is determined by individual preference and can include meat or rice-based recipes.
In huevos divorciados, one egg has a tomato sauce while the other has tomatillos. Other toppings added to the dish include avocado, cilantro, and onions.
For a mollete, when bolillo bread is halved, beans are added first, and then cheese is spread and melted on the grill. (Kitson, 2019)
References
Cline, H. F. , Bernstein, Marvin, D. , Meyer, Michael, C., Palerm, Angel, Willey, Gordon, R., Parkes, Henry, B., Griffin, & Ernst, C. (2021). Mexico. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web.
Cullen, D. (2019). Agua de Jamaica. Mexican Food Journal. Web.
Cullen, D. (2021). Horchata. Mexican Food Journal. Web.
Dave. (2019). Lentil tacos – level up dinner. Hurry the Food Up. Web.
Kitson, M. (2019). 14 Mexican breakfasts to start your day off with a bang. SBS. Web.
Martinez, M. (2019). Tacos de alambre. Mexico in my Kitchen. Web.
Mike. (2021). Pollo asado (Mexican roast chicken). Chilli Pepper Madness. Web.