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Everyone knows that Mexican food is different and that Mexican food recipes are definitely not the same as American recipes. Unlike Canada, which has a culinary tradition which is quite similar to our own, America’s neighbor to the south has a radically different way of cooking, with many recipes and ingredients which are unfamiliar to the American palate – but what is it that has caused such a divergence in the cuisines of the two neighboring nations?

Some Mexican Food History

There are two important reasons why Mexican food differs so greatly from the standard fare in the United States. One is historical. Unlike the United States, Mexico spent a much longer time as a Spanish colony than did the US. It is true that parts of the US were originally Spanish territories, though the Spanish colonial period lasted for a much briefer length of time here, with the influence of Spanish cuisine being pronounced mostly in regions, which were once Spanish territory, largely those bordering Mexico.

By contrast, what is now the United States was largely colonized by immigrants from Northern Europe, especially the English, Dutch and Germans, with French settlers in some areas and later on, immigrants from eastern Europe and Scandinavia – and to a lesser extent, literally every other part of the globe.

Colonists who came to Mexico from Europe came by and large from Spain and had a deep and lasting influence on what is now the nation of Mexico. Many classic Mexican recipes are either Spanish and are made much the same way as they are in Europe or are adaptations of Spanish dishes using local ingredients as substitutes for those, which were unavailable in the Americas.

Mexico has also seen a large number of immigrants arrive from the Levant (especially Syria and Lebanon), adding a few dishes which are now classic Mexican food recipes in their own right such as al pastor. This dish is essentially a Mexican take on the middle eastern shawarma.

While the US has had many immigrants from many different parts of the world, the diversity of the US population as compared to Mexico’s has meant that the cuisine of Mexico has remained more distinct than that of its northern neighbor. This by no means, means that Mexico is a place where foods from other countries is not enjoyed and adapted to local tastes either.

Different Ingredients

The other important factor in the difference between the cuisines of Mexico and the US is in the ingredients used. Just like in this country, Mexican cooks and Spanish colonists alike have always worked with the ingredients, which were widely available. In Mexico, of course that meant avocado, chili peppers, corn, pumpkins, pineapple, and other produce typical of the country’s warmer climate.

This blend of native ingredients and recipes with those brought over by the Spanish is what made Mexican food what it is today and many of the most famous Mexican food recipes clearly show this marriage of old world and new world cuisines. From tacos to soups to Mexican casserole recipes, this is one very successful – and very popular type of fusion cuisine.

Mexican cuisine is the second most vast and varied after Chinese cuisine, so if you thought it was all tacos and burritos, you might be pleasantly surprised by some of the delicious recipes at MexicanFoodRecipes.org. There is plenty to choose from, including warming soups and stews, salads and traditional Mexican fare along with information on the fascinating Mexican food customs.

Tags:cooking,diet,Dieting,eating,family,food,food and drink,home,home and garden,lifestyles,mexican food,mexican recipes,mexico,recipes

Tags: cooking, diet, Dieting, eating, family, food, food and drink, home, home and garden, lifestyles, mexican food, mexican recipes, mexico, recipes

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 3:58 am and is filed under Dieting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.