Do you enjoy eating enchiladas? Even if this is one of your favorite items on the menu when you visit a Mexican restaurant, do you know the actual meaning of enchilada?
The first time this word was referenced in the United States was during 1885, and it means, “in chile.” Whether you like yours with chicken, cheese, beef, or fish, it wouldn’t be an enchilada without the chile sauce. When you want to know how to spot authentic Mexican food, it’s nice to know a bit of culinary history.
Is chicken, pork, or perhaps a seafood mole your favorite dish on the menu? If you also love to explore new palate-pleasing flavors, there are actually 7 different types of Oaxacan mole, each with their own flavor profile:
- Amarillo
- Chichilo
- Coloradito
- Manchamantel
- Negro
- Rojo
- Verde
The Aztecs are believed to be the first people to use tortillas to wrap food. Chances are their tortillas were made out of corn rather than flour, however. It would be interesting to know what they thought about flour tortillas, which are a modern take on the corn classic. Furthermore, what might they think of modern Mexican restaurants, 67,391 of which serve burritos? Or that tortillas have been consistently outselling hotdog buns since 2010.
Mayans are believed to deserve credit for the creation of traditional Mexican cuisine. What we currently know as Mexican food was derived from what was prepared around 2,000 years ago. It’s not surprising that it continues to be the most popular type of ethnic food in the United States.
More recently, Tex-Mex came on the scene. This style of cuisine, which combines the ingredients and flavors of Mexico and Texas, was created back in the 1940s. It is a delicious fusion created by Mexico and Texas, which are, of course, neighbors.
Can you go a day without salsa? While some people may like their salsa hot, others prefer mild or medium salsa. At whatever temperature you like yours, were you aware that it has replaced ketchup and mayonnaise as the top condiment throughout the United States.
Even if you forget the actual meaning of enchilada, that won’t stop you from having a steaming plate of them the next time you go out for Mexican food. And remember to ask your server for recommendations, as it’s always nice to explore new taste profiles.
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