The Mexican Focus Blog

Mexican Food is not always spicy and some that are traditionally so spicy are enchiladas, burritos and tacos. Mexicans do however use a large amount of chillies in their delicious dishes and this is where that spicy taste comes from. The majority of people like a little heat as it is definitely worth it to savor the flavor that you get from chili.

Most of our mexican dishes do call for chili in one form or another and it is a fact that most chillies are hot! It’s not always a good idea to leave them out as the recipe may rely on the strong flavor of the chili. Jarred or canned chiles and sauces are more often than not a little less potent than what some of the fresher versions may be.

If you love mexican food but don’t want it too hot there are some mild chili ingredients you can try..

• Chile powder
• Enchilada sauce (look for “mild” on the label.)
• Mild green taco sauce
• Green Tabasco sauce
• Canned green chiles

Cumin, oregano, onion, chili powder, cumin,cilantro and garlic are among the most common spices that you will find in Mexican Cooking.

The highly aromatic and flavorful seed Cumin (cuminum cyminum) is used both ground and whole in a range of Mexican soups and meat stews as well as being used in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes.

Mexican oregano is different from its English counter part and has a different taste altogether. Unlike Mediterranean oregano, Mexican oregano is best if used dry. You can normally purchase it in either powder or flake form, and be careful because the powder is generally stronger than the flakes so you may need to adjust accordingly. You should be able to find Mexican oregano in the spice aisle of your local store.

Cilantro (coriandum sativum) is also better know as Coriander and is a self-seeding annual that has a tangy flavor. Used in a great range of Mexican dishes Cilantro is the main ingredient that makes the dish taste like Mexican.

Make your next Mexican meal authentic and try some of tasty Mexican Recipes.