Understanding Mexican Herbs and Spices
It is the herbs and spices used in Mexican cooking that truly make the meal. If these ingredients were not added, a Mexican dish would not differ greatly from many others. The herbs and spices used in Mexico help make the cuisine special. It is good to learn all you can about them.
Chile powder is the most well known spice used in Mexican cuisine. It is a mixture of many different types of chilies. Chipotle is made from smoked dried jalapeno peppers. Ancho, in comparison, has a fruity, sweet flavor. Many chili powders that you purchase at the grocery store are a combination of chilies, oregano, salt, coriander, garlic, and cumin.
Epazote is a green herb that grows fairly tall. Also known as, Mexican tea, this herb is used in bean dishes to add flavor and relieve digestive problems that beans may cause. Epazote is potent and should only be used in small quantities. Large quantities can be toxic. Just add a couple of leaves to your bean dish as it cooks.
If you need a distinctive flavor or a yellow coloring to a dish, use annatto seeds. They are often added to sauces and rice dishes. The seeds are soaked for at least an hour in water before use. The water can also be used in cooking. The crushed seeds are often used in marinades.
Cilantro is an herb that looks a lot like flat leaf parsley. In reality, they are the leaves of the coriander plant. Cilantro is always used fresh. The flavor is a bit pungent and it adds a nice tanginess to a recipe. It works well in salsas, rice, beans, moles, stews, and soups. Cilantro brightens up the flavor of many dishes.
The seeds of the cumin plant are often used in Mexican cooking. Cumin seeds can be used ground into powder or whole. It is often used with chile powder to create a nice balance in the flavors. Soups, stews and many other dishes are better after you add cumin. Azafran, also known as safflower or Mexican saffron, adds flavor and color to a dish, making it a beautiful yellow. This spice is used sparingly because it can be bitter. It is frequently added to rice or seafood.
If you pay attention to traditional Mexican food you will notice that these spices are used a lot along with oregano and thyme. For a truly Mexican flavor, look for Mexican oregano instead of the more common Italian oregano. It has an earthier flavor. This herb can be found in some specialty herb catalogs. It is unlikely that you will find it at the grocery store or in a local nursery unless you live in an area with a large Mexican population.
Understanding how to develop the flavors of Mexico will involve learning about the spices and herbs they use in cooking. That authentic Mexican flavor you want cannot be developed without them. Use these spices the right way and you will find your recipes turn out better than ever. Learning how to use these spices will change your cooking for the better.
Which meats can you use for Mexican recipes? Will freezing peppers make them lose their spiciness? Find the answers to these questions and more at MexicanFoodRecipes.org, where you will also discover plenty of authentic Mexican recipes, easy Mexican salsas, soups and salads and more, which you can make at home.
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