Italian food is no longer the most popular ethnic food in America. Believe it or not, Mexican food carries that banner now. Food historians say Americans started loving Mexican food hundreds of years ago. The Best Mexican Foods combined with the taste of “Anglo” foods along the Texas-Mexico border. A new type of food, called Tex-Mex, was born. Indeed, some Tex-Mex food bore little resemblance to what one finds inside Mexico.
Immigration also played a role. Mexican restaurants started appearing everywhere. Today, one can buy Mexican seasonings and wholesale tortillas in New York City. The majority of U.S. Mexican restaurants follow the tradition of Tex-Mex cuisine. The simple food of Northern Mexico is combined with Texas ranch food. For instance, chili did not originate in Mexico. Rather, cooks started making chili on the Texas ranches because of an abundance of beef. Americans had their way with traditional Mexican frijoles refritos. The term actually means well-fried beans. However, U.S. Mexican restaurants called them refried beans. The well-known combination plate of beans and an entree is also derived from Tex-Mex cuisine.
Interestingly, some so-called “Mexican” dishes actually started in the U.S. Chimichangas were first cooked at a Mexican restaurant in Arizona and nachos were invented during the sixties. Tortilla chips became popular in the U.S. during the early twentieth century. Oddly, they were invented to use the leftover dough from making tortillas. Due to the interest in foods, authentic Mexican restaurants are popping up. Authentic Mexican food refers to dishes and spices used in Mexico for fifty years or more. Authentic Mexican ingredients include corn, tomatoes, onion, garlic and chiles.
Mexican cooks are known for layering flavors. This can be seen in their mole sauce. Thirty different spices, cocoa and peanuts are used to make this sauce. Amazingly, cactus is used in many native dishes. There were no ovens so food was prepared over an open fire. Likewise, many dishes were prepared with steamed meat. Further, cooks used large rocks or a mortar and pestle to grind up dry ingredients. Why not try your hand at preparing a Mexican dinner? Order Wholesale Tortillas in New York City and find a great recipe.
