7 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in San Miguel De Allende

Enchiladas consist of a tortilla that is usually dipped in a chile-based sauce, then stuffed with various fillings such as cheese, meat, or fish. Then it is rolled up, baked, and topped with sauces, onions, beans, or more cheese. This highly versatile dish is believed to have originated from a Mayan dish called papadzules, consisting of corn tortillas dipped in pumpkin purée and filled with chopped boiled eggs. From there, numerous variations developed throughout Mexico and outside of its borders. The word enchilada, which first appeared in print in 1885, comes from the Spanish word enchilar, meaning to season with chile pepper. Today, there are countless versions of enchiladas. In northern Mexico's Sonora, they make them open-faced, topped with black olives and a red chile sauce, while the New Mexico version is prepared by layering the tortillas in a tall stack with cheese and onions between each layer. Enchiladas have become so popular that there is even a National Enchilada Day (in the US), celebrated every year on May 5, also known as Cinco de Mayo.Expand

Pozole is a soupy and aromatic one-bowl stew from Mexico, usually served to crowds on special occasions and celebrations such as Christmas, weddings, or birthdays. Its main ingredient is nixtamal or hominy - large, dried corn kernels that are pre-cooked in an alkaline solution in order to soften them. The process, known as nixtamalization, makes the solution foamy or potzolli in Nahuatl, which is how pozole got its name. Other ingredients in the dish include a variety of herbs, spices, and meat such as pork, chicken, or seafood, depending on the region. Usual garnishes include lettuce, onion, oregano, pepper, fried tortillas, and lime, so that each guest can add something to the dish according to their preference. The dish has an extremely unusual history - it was invented in pre-Hispanic times and was used in ritual sacrifices, when corn and pieces of human flesh were offered to the gods. After the Spaniards' arrival, cannibalism was banned, and pork became the meat of choice because it tasted similar to human flesh. The Mesoamericans believed that the gods created people out of masa (cornmeal dough), so hominy corn remained in the dish. Pozole can be served in a red, white, or green broth, symbolizing the colors of Mexico's flag. It is also a well-known and popular cure for hangovers, especially in restaurants known as pozolerías that specialize in it. In the state of Guerrero, pozole is especially beloved - at the moment, there are four versions of pozole in this Mexican state.Expand

Barbacoa is a term that is mostly associated with Mexico and refers to an ancient technique of cooking meat in underground ovens. There are numerous regional varieties, which usually differ in the type of meat or the cut, but the most common options include lamb, goat, or mutton—and animal heads are traditionally regarded as a favorite barbacoa specialty. Mexican barbacoa involved digging a hole in the ground, lining the bottom and the sides with rocks, and adding a layer of burning wood, which would then be covered with agave leaves. They would then place the meat on the leaves, and the hole would be covered and sealed. An additional flame would be lit on top to keep animals away, and the meat would be left to cook overnight. Throughout history, the word barbacoa has been associated with numerous meanings. The first mention of the word had Caribbean origins, where it was used for a contraption created with a framework of sticks. Another popular belief is that the word barbecue has its roots in the same word. Mexican barbacoa tradition is believed to have its origins in the ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures. However, they did not use the name barbacoa. In some parts of Mexico, the words pibil, tatema, and birria are used to describe similar dishes cooked under the ground, but it is believed that they are all babacoa styles. Barbacoa is particularly popular in northern Mexico and the southern United States regions. Due to health and safety regulations, the original barbacoa is becoming increasingly rare. Expand

Mixiote is a Mexican dish made by wrapping the membranes of Agave americana plants around various types of meat and steaming or barbecuing the combination until the meat is fully cooked and tender. Meat such as beef, chicken, pork, or lamb is usually marinated in a spicy concoction consisting of chilis, cumin, garlic, and lime juice. When fully cooked, the meat is often used as a filling for tortilla dishes.Expand

Pozole is a soupy and aromatic Mexican stew that comes in three versions – red, white, and green, symbolizing the colors of the Mexican flag. Although there are many variations, pozole verde or green pozole is usually made with a combination of hominy, chicken or pork (or both), onions, garlic, salt, and a green sauce consisting of poblano and jalapeño peppers, green tomatoes, lettuce, radish or spinach leaves, oregano, cumin, pumpkin seeds, salt, garlic, and onions. The ingredients are covered with water, simmered until everything is fully cooked, and then mixed with the sauce and simmered for a few more minutes. The stew is served in individual bowls and it's usually garnished with shredded lettuce, diced onions, lime wedges, and chicharrónes.Expand

Mexican enmoladas are essentially enchiladas covered in mole sauce. The enchiladas might be filled with a wide array of ingredients, but they are most often filled with chicken and crumbled cheese. The tortillas are first fried, dipped into the warm mole sauce, then filled with chicken and cheese. If needed, more mole sauce is spooned over the enmoladas. Before serving, enmoladas can be garnished with sliced onions and chopped coriander. This tasty Mexican dish is a great example of using leftover mole sauce for the creation of a new meal.Expand

Salsa verde enchiladas is a Mexican dish prepared by covering enchiladas with green salsa. The enchiladas are traditionally filled with shredded chicken, and the salsa is made with small green tomatillos, chili peppers, coriander, parsley, onions, garlic, and oregano. Once filled with chicken, the enchiladas are covered with salsa verde, and the dish is typically topped with shredded cheese, onions, and coriander. Some cooks like to add sour cream as an additional topping, as it balances the sharp acidity of the green salsa.Expand