Monday, February 6, 2012

What's the difference between real Mexican food and Tex- Mex?

Is there a difference in taste or ingredients? All of the Mexican restaurants I've ever been to all basically taste the same except for some notably good ones in Southern Texas or in Ft. Worth. How can I explain to people what the difference is?What's the difference between real Mexican food and Tex- Mex?
A previous answer is right in some aspect, although I don't agree that Tex Mex is gross. When done well, it is very good, albeit different from real Mexican food (which is also available in some places in the States). I would agree with what's been said about ground meat and tomato based sauces. Real Mexican food also has a much greater variety of ingredients ... you more often see the use of fresh foods, like cilantro, avocado, lime, corn ... there's a lot of sea food (not talking deep fried fish tacos here) ... a lot of variety in what meats/parts are used (tripe, goat, pork, chicken, beef, quail). Also, Tex Mex uses a LOT more cheese, and it isn't the white fresh cheese that is used in Mexican food, it's usually cheddar or some other yellow one. There are some aspects of authentic Mexican food in Tex Mex, though. Mol茅 sauce, tomatillo sauce, tamales (although they can be different than authentic ones), grilled meats, tacos that aren't like the ones you get from taco bell, etc.



Honestly, they are both tasty. I don't subscribe to the idea that something is automatically bad just because it's not "authentic." I'm Indian and have had lots of unauthentic Indian food that is REALLY good. I don't have to get offended about it, just enjoy everything.What's the difference between real Mexican food and Tex- Mex?
Two people already answered your question so I'll answer the other one you asked.

Common Mexican ingredients:

Cilantro: a commonly used herb

Meats: They use all parts of the animal, ground beef isn't very common.

Peppers: They use many

Sauces: Mostly pepper based

Salsa: No vinegar, usually very simple.

Beans: Pintos, mashed and fried

Tortillas: Usually corn, bought or made fresh every day.

Common Mexican Street Food:

Tacos: tortilla, carne asada, cilantro,onions,salsa. THAT'S IT. Usually fairly small.

Gorditas: Circle shaped dough stuffed with a sauce and meat or beans and cheese

Tortas: Just plain sandwiches hot or cold, Not made with sandwich bread though

Burritos: flour tortillas, beans,meat and sauce. THAT'S IT. and they aren't big, they are pretty small. 2 or 3 will fill you up.

Tamales: Masa in a corn husk filled with sauce and meat.

Enchiladas: Fried tortilla dipped in sauce and filled with cheese.

Flautas: Tortilla rolled up with chicken inside then fried.

Tostadas: Fried tortilla with beans on top



Tex-Mex:

Not spicy

Tomato based sauces

Huge burritos

Chimichangas

A lot is topped with wrong and too many vegetables.

Way too much cheese.
Simple, one is Mexican and the other is Mexican American. Here is an example, ChimiChanga = Tex Mex. Mole = Oaxaca. It is hard to just classify mexican food because the country has different variations throughout mexico. You will never see food from oaxaca, puebla, yucatan or Tabasco style food in US. All you see is Mexican food from Northern States. But hardcore Mexican food, Menudo, Posole, Mole, sopes, etc...What's the difference between real Mexican food and Tex- Mex?
Yes, it is something the gringos in the U.S. don't like to admit, but Tex-Mex is not good. It is full of ground beef and tomato based sauces. Real Mexican food is not made with ground beef (i've been to Mexico many times an never had ground beef!), and their enchilada sauce is not tomato based. This Tex-Mex food is not really edible compared to the real thing. I mean, c'mon, tamales made with ground beef?

Plus a packet of 'taco seasoning' does not a good dish make. Know your herbs and use them accordingly, right?

So many ppl giving out 'recipes' have all the gringo stuff in them and it is so totally disgusting that I'd never eat it. Sorry to offend those who post such things, but perhaps a couple of visits to deep Mexico would give them a new lease on cooking.

Yep, no one's gonna like this answer, but it's true.
just tell them that saying taco bell is actual spanish food is like saying dominos is actual italian foodWhat's the difference between real Mexican food and Tex- Mex?
Mexican food is varied according to region, Tex Mex is the style you would find near and in Texas
Tex-Mex food has a lot more meat in it than authentic Mexican food. I saw a program on the Food Channel about this.
I love Gringo Mexican food. Yum!

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