If you’re like us, you love Mexican cuisine. However, our team at California Burritos often finds that many of those most passionate about food know very little about it. You know what you like, you know what flavors and spices to expect, but you really, just don’t know the nitty-gritty. Not to fret, we have you covered! In this article, we’re giving you a few fun facts that you may, or may not know, about authentic Mexican cuisine.
Authentic guacamole is not what you’d expect.
There’s nothing quite like freshly made guac served in a lava stone with a side of homemade tortilla chips and salsa. However, if you’re traveling to Mexico or other authentic regions, you may be surprised when ordering your favorite green dish. Authentic guacamole contains no garlic or lime! Shocking, we agree.
Mexican cuisine is a well-balanced meal.
While some Mexican restaurants go “American-style,” others stick to creating authentic meals. If you go authentic, many of the dishes served provide a well-balanced meal! With various proteins, vegetables, grains, and carbohydrates, the only thing missing is the fruit!
Traditional quesadillas don’t have cheese
The horror! But, it’s true – authentically made quesadillas contain meat, vegetables, and beans, no (or very little) cheese is added.
Milkshakes have strong ties to Mexico
Documented history states that in 1519, Emperor Moctezuma enjoyed iced beverages created from chocolate and honey – the early foundation for what is now the milkshake.
Mexican delicacies are not for everyone
We’ve all seen the worm in the tequila bottle, but creepy crawlers are actually more common than you may imagine. Grasshoppers, ant larvae, and worms are all considered delicacies on the streets of Oaxaca and widely found in upscale trendy Mexico City restaurants. If these items aren’t your cup of team, avoid chapulines, escamoles, and chinicuiles!
Tomatoes originated in Mexico
As one of the most common ingredients worldwide, the tomato was cultivated by the Aztecs. However, the vegetable was an earlier version known as solanum pimpinellifolium, or “little wild tomatoes.”
Mexican cuisine loves the chili pepper.
With more than 100 varieties of the chili pepper, it’s no wonder that Mexican cuisine prefers this pepper over others. In fact, the chili pepper is so loved, it’s utilized in several authentic desserts!