America is a country with a rich and diverse culinary culture. This means that when you come to the US, you will easily find the traditional dishes of many different countries around the world, including Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. However, Mexican cuisine also has a strong influence on American culinary culture, and Mexican dishes have become the favorites of many people in the United States.
Let’s take a look at the most popular Mexican dishes in the US right now!
Tacos
Tacos are the most loved Mexican food in America. Tacos shells are made from cornmeal and are soft-fried, folded, and depending on each person’s preference, the inside will be a combination of cooked meats, tomato sauce, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. and finely chopped coriander. This dish has two types of crust, hard and soft, and the size and shape of tacos are also varied to create more fun for people to eat. After the ingredients are prepared, they will be grilled or steamed until their color becomes attractive with bright yellow or light brown combined with the red of the chili sauce and the green of the accompanying vegetables. All these ingredients blend together to create a delicious and flavorful Mexican dish.
Quesadillas
The quesadilla dish has a simple way of processing, just sandwich the cheese with a crust from cornmeal and bake it on the fire to have a delicious cake. But in luxury restaurants and eateries, this dish is mixed with many attractive ingredients such as sausages, mushrooms, garlic, beans, fried pork skin, stewed chicken… The crust can also be mixed. Add vegetables for extra color. There is also a Hawaiian version of quesadilla in the US.
Since the 16th century, quesadilla has become a traditional Mexican dish, made with hot cornmeal topped with cheese and various fillings such as meat and vegetables. The dish is then folded to be eaten by hand. Then toppings such as guacamole, salsa, and sour cream were added. In the United States, people make their own quesadillas by adding non-traditional fillings like scrambled eggs to breakfast and replacing cornstarch with flour.
Tamales
Tamales are made from cornmeal mixed with meat, fish, or vegetables, then wrapped in banana leaves or corn leaves and steamed. This dish has many different names and variations throughout North and South America. However, if only based on appearance, many people may confuse it with Vietnamese banh tet or banh less.
Tamales can be sweet, savory, or vegetarian depending on personal preference. Sweet fillings are usually made with flour, corn kernels, cheese, and other seasonings, while savory fillings are usually more varied with meats, green peppers, cheese, and other seasonings. Vegetarian fillings are often prioritized over vegetables, creating a great taste and being equally attractive.
Tamales were introduced at the World Colombian Exposition in 1893 and became the most popular dish in Los Angeles in 1894. Although tamales originated in Latin America, it has now become the norm. It is a diverse and popular dish all over the world.
Menudo soup
If you are planning a trip to the US to explore the local cuisine, don’t forget to enjoy the signature soups. In particular, menudo – a famous Mexican soup – is one of the top choices at many restaurants in the US. Menudo is made from the stomach, legs, and vertebrae of beef, mixed with chili, herbs, and other spices. In addition to its high nutritional value, menudo is also considered an effective alcoholic soup. If you’ve had too much of a party, try menudo to re-energize and reduce fatigue.
Menudo is often prepared in the family as a special event, for example, after a wedding reception, the family of the newlyweds will have a menudo meal together. However, preparing this dish takes a long time because the menudo includes many ingredients and side dishes such as salsa, onion, chili, cilantro, lime juice… In it, a bowl of menudo is decorated. beautiful and attractive diners need to take hours to cook. However, in the US, menudo has become a popular dish and is available in grocery stores and restaurants in international areas and the Mexican diaspora.
Mollete
Mollete is a traditional northern Mexican sandwich flavored with roasted beans, cheese, and salsa. The cake is made from half a roll of bolillo bread topped with a filling, usually fried beans, onions, coriander, and jalapeno peppers. In particular, with the way of sandwiching using only half a piece of bread, Mollete makes a difference in decoration and eating compared to other sandwiches.
Mollete is popular all over Mexico with many cafes, restaurants, and street eateries. The prototype of this sandwich dates back to Andalusia, Spain, where rustic oval bread was a breakfast staple for many years. The Mexican athlete is also considered a distant cousin of Italy’s bruschetta, and in the southern parts of the country, Mollete is often served with pico de gallo and topped with bacon and mushrooms.
More popular in the US, Mollete is now available in virtually every city in the country. With its unique taste and impressive decoration, Mollete is becoming more and more known and loved all over the world.
Enchiladas
Enchiladas is a dish of Mexican origin, with a crust made from cornmeal and the filling is a mixture of cheese and meat, then baked. A spicy sauce made from poblano peppers is often included to enhance the flavor. Depending on the restaurant, the filling may be supplemented with other ingredients such as beef, chicken, or pork.
Enchiladas originally appeared in Mexican culture, dating back to the Aztecs, when they rolled tortilla chips around other foods. People living in the lake region of the Valley of Mexico also have a tradition of eating tortillas that are folded or rolled around small fish. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a Spanish historian, recorded a party organized by Hernán Cortés in Coyoacán, in which dishes were served in tortillas. Since then, this dish has become popular not only in Mexico but also in many countries around the world, including the US.
When enjoying Enchiladas, you will feel the fatty aroma of cheese, mixed with the spicy flavor of the sauce, and spread in your mouth. This dish is loved by many people and has become an indispensable part of American and world cuisine.