| Contrary to popular belief, authentic Mexican foods | | | | In terms of canned goods, some of the foods you will |
| involve so much more than the usual selection of | | | | want to have on hand include several types of chilies |
| nachos, tacos, and tortillas. Mexican foods contain so | | | | either diced or whole along with both green and red |
| many different types of fresh, delicious ingredients and | | | | chili sauces. Some other chili peppers you will find in |
| there are countless recipes to choose from including | | | | Mexican foods include anchos, cascabels, guajillos, |
| appetizers, dips, main courses, salads, side dishes, and | | | | jalapenos, pasillas, and serranos. |
| soups. | | | | Beef and chicken stock or broths along with tomato |
| However, in order to make all of these tasty foods | | | | sauce are three other ingredients often used in |
| and experiment with recipes you will need to have a | | | | creating authentic Mexican recipes. Beans also play a |
| selection of herbs, fruits, meats, sauces, spices, and | | | | large role in Mexican foods and some of what you will |
| vegetables to stock your pantry and refrigerator. | | | | need include black beans, refried beans, small red |
| Mexican Herbs and Spices | | | | Mexican beans, and pinto beans. |
| Some of the most common flavors, herbs, and spices | | | | Also, count on needing rice, and many fruits and |
| used in authentic Mexican food recipes include: | | | | vegetables including avocados, bell peppers, |
| | | | cucumbers, garlic, jicama, lemons, limes, onions, |
| 1. Almond or almendra | | | | plantains, potatoes, and tomatillos. |
| 2. Basil or albahaca | | | | To cook Mexican style foods you will also need a few |
| 3. Black pepper or pimienta negra | | | | types of cheeses and dairy products including cheddar, |
| 4. Garlic or ajo | | | | cotija, crema, panela, pepper jack, queso blanco and |
| 5. Caraway or alcaravea | | | | quesa fresco. In addition, when it comes to meats, |
| 6. Cinnamon or canela | | | | Mexican recipes include a range of types including |
| 7. Coriander or cilantro | | | | beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and veal prepared in a |
| 8. Cumin or comino | | | | variety of ways such as baked, broiled, fried, and |
| 9. Ginger or jengibre | | | | grilled. |
| 10. Hazelnut or avellana | | | | For sweet dishes and Mexican desserts you will need |
| 11. Mustard or mostaza | | | | things such as evaporated milk, sweet condensed milk, |
| 12. Nutmeg or nuez moscada | | | | anise, cinnamon sticks, honey, Mexican chocolate, |
| 13. Oregano or oregano | | | | sugar, and vanilla beans. You will also want to have |
| 14. Paprika or pimenton dulce | | | | some ingredients for baking breads and similar items |
| 15. Parsley or perejil | | | | including coarse salt, corn, and flour tortillas, corn meal, |
| 16. Rosemary or romero | | | | hominy both frozen and dried, masa harina, which is a |
| 17. Salt or sal | | | | type of corn meal dough made from dried, ground |
| 18. Tarragon or estragon | | | | corn, and white flour. |
| 19. Thyme or tomillo | | | | With some of these incredibly tasty ingredients on |
| Stocking Your Mexican Pantry | | | | hand you will be able to make an array of Mexican |
| In order to make a variety of traditional Mexican foods | | | | foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as many |
| you will need to stock your pantry with some staples | | | | appetizers, side dishes, and filling snacks. |
| commonly found in this type of creative cuisine. | | | | |