With the cold air creeping upon us, many of us are ditching the light summer meals. Cold weather means it’s time for comfort food, in moderation, of course. Even though there are several American favorites for this time of year, Mexican cuisine can also provide an array of satisfying meals. Here are a few of our favorites straight from Mama’s kitchen:

Rice Bowls

The best part of a rice bowl is that you can customize it to suit your tastes. Whether you’re looking for a healthier version or straight-up comfort food, the choice of rice and protein is yours to make! For instance, the base of the dish is rice. For the healthier version, opt for a whole grain brown or basmati or go the opposite direction and spice things up with authentic yellow or Spanish rice.

Next, you’ll need an array of spices such as cumin, chili and onion powders. Toss in some vegetables and beans to spice up the flavor and mix into your cooked rice. Beans, again, are of your choice. There are black beans, red beans, kidney beans, and so on. For additional protein, you can toss in chicken, marinated steak, or pulled pork.

To finish your rice bowl, simply plop everything into a bowl and add your favorite toppings. We love fresh avocado slices and shredded cheese. However, salsa and sour cream are perfect additions as well.

Soups

Now we’re not talking about Mama’s chicken noodle soup here. We’re talking about hearty, creamy, soul-warming soup. The best part about Mexican cuisine is we love our vegetables. Thus, when making a soup, toss in whatever vegetable you love! From chayote to zucchini, poblano chiles to mushrooms, there’s no wrong answer with soup. Click here for a pretty good poblano corn chowder recipe.

However, if you’re a meat lover, consider whipping up a batch of chicken tortilla soup. This soup is perfect for any crowd and serves perfectly with tortilla chips. Hey, why not replace the spoon with the tortilla chips!

If the cold air has you craving a hearty lunch, stop into California Burritos. Our menu offers a variety Mexican cuisine for everyone. Whether meatless or vegetarian, our meals are made to order and will have you coming back for more!