Thursday, February 23, 2012

What are the most common ingredient for everyday Mexican food?

We are hiring someone to cook for us and she is from Mexico? What kind of food /ingredient/seasoning should I stock up my pantry? What are the most common ingredient for everyday Mexican food?
You will need dried chili peppers. (chili arbols, New Mexico chili's, Chili Guierllos), tomatillos, garlic, cilantro, onions, jalapenos or serrano peppers, tomatoes, rice, pinto beans, masa, corn husks, different meat, bouillon cubes, tortillas, chorizo, and that should be a good start.What are the most common ingredient for everyday Mexican food?
jalapenos, tortillas, beans

tomatoes, cilantro, garlic



then ask her when she gets there what else she needs
rice

beans - black beans, pintos, red beans canned and dried

diced tomatoes in cans

limes

chicken

flank steak, round steak, ground beef

sour cream

tomato sauce

cilantro

chipotle in canned adobo sauce

cumin, oregano, chile powder

fresh veggies - green and red peppers, lettuce, avocado, onion

black and green olives

flour tortillas, corn tortillas



Mexico has a lot of shoreline and so fish and seafood are very popular there, even though we rarely see it in Mexican restaurants in the US.What are the most common ingredient for everyday Mexican food?
ayee, Chihuahua.
hot pepperWhat are the most common ingredient for everyday Mexican food?
fresh serrano or jalapeno chiles, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, tortillas, tomato sauce, rice, peruvian beans(most people think that mexican people use pinto beans but in mexico people use peruvian beans...they are so much better), whole chicken, some sort of white fish, steak, pork, fresh and dry oregano, radishes, limes!! fresh garlic, canola oil, potatoes, tomatillos, zucchini or mexican squash, buy some monterrey jack(it's the closest thing to queso chihuahua).
You can always ask her, different places in Mexico use different ingredients. I've grown up using Northern Mexican cuisine and we use:

Jalapenos

Tomatoes

Corn Tortillas

Pork cracklings

White onions

Garlic salt

Long green (California) chile

Limes

Pinto beans

Tostadas (like tortilla chips)

Cheese

Fish Fillets

Chicken breast

and lots of vegetables (mexican squash, celery, carrots)
citrano with beans
Cactus
Mexican cuisine is wonderful in that it takes the form of what ingrediants are available. Beans, Rice, and Corn of all types (Hominy, yellow, Harina (corn flour)) are staples. I would let her do the shopping though - let her cook with what she is familiar with.
since you are the boss , you can specify whatever you want, but if you want this person to cook like she does at home, stockup on;



for the fridge;

Tortillas

Green Peppers(non pickled jalapeċ¸½os)

serrano peppers

onion

tomatoes

cilantro

mexican chorizo

smoked ham

plenty of pork and chicken



for the pantry;

vegetable shortening

lard

corn oil

corn meal, also known as mazeca

flour

pinto beans

peruvian beans(white beans)

chickpeas(garbanzos)



in a Mexican home, breakfast is usually scrambled eggs with potatoes,chorizo, ham, beans, or tortillas(chilaquiles)

luch is the main meal of the day, usually pork or chicken with chile sauce or a beef or chicken stew. dinner is fairly ligth, usually some chicken with pasta.
corn tortillas, corn, jalapenos, tequila, beer, nopales, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, avocado, jicama, limes, horchata, cinnamon, condensed milk, farmer's cheese
You want everyday Mexican food. Can you take it?



Ask the cook, she will probably first ask what you want. A cook is versatile enough to adapt to your preferences and then add some of her own, not the other way around. Mexican cuisine has this totally unbelievable diversity of dishes from the many different regions, so go easy and do not expect tourist fare like tacos and enchiladas because that is not what average Mexicans eat on a daily basis.



Breakfast can be eggs made in a variety of ways from Ranchero, which are fried eggs served over a soft fried tortilla and smothered in sauce, to Mexican scrambled eggs which include diced tomato, onion and serrano chile. If you are not used to chilies please tell her. Another good option are chilaquiles, which are pretty good.



Mexican rice is something you can enjoy on an almost daily basis because there are so many different ways to prepare it.



You can stock up on many things, but best wait until she tells you what she needs.
jalapenos, serranos, flour (for tortillas), rice, beans, enchilada sauce, cheese, salsa and tomatoes

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