Since I love pretty much all Mexican food, it would be hard for me to pick a favorite, but I particularly love any dish poured over with salsa verde, made of tomatillos. This fresh, slightly tart, and bright green sauce is so aromatic and flavorful, that you can't help but think of Mexico. Sometimes, though it's hard to differentiate between authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex recipes. Many foods that are popular in American culture are interpretations of Mexican foods. Just think of nachos, burritos, and chili. But no matter the actual origin of these foods, they all taste great due to the familiar Mexican flavors.
My favorite dish, enchiladas Suizas, isn't entirely Mexican either. But it's served at Mexican restaurants and is for all its worth considered authentic. As the story goes, Swiss immigrants brought their love of dairy products along with them to Mexico, where they opened dairies and began producing cheeses like the ones they knew back home. Somewhere along the line, the traditional dish of enchiladas, made with either red or green salsa, was reinterpreted using the Swiss cheese (Suizas means Swiss). The dish consists of corn tortillas wrapped around filling, then layered in a casserole, poured over with salsa verde, and covered with cheese. It's Mexican home-cooked comfort food at its best.
Global Cuisine
Global Cuisine
San Jose del Cabo's Tequila Shrimp
On a trip to the southern tip of Baja California, I heard about Tequila Restaurant in San Jose del Cabo, twenty minutes east of its better known cousin, Cabo San Lucas. Enrique Silva, co-owner and chef, introduced me to one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, Camarones al Tequila.
He serves the shrimp with sides of black beans and fried plantains, which were great, but a bit impractical for my kitchen so I’ve adapted the recipe.
For a side, I think rice, pasta, or steamed spinach works just as well. The tequila-garlic sauce gives plenty of flavor. Add a green salad and you have the perfect, easy-to-prepare meal.
The tequila should be white and inexpensive. Save the good stuff for your guests.
Moussaka
"It's all Greek to me" were practically the words that came out of my
mouth when I first saw this dish listed on a restaurant menu. I didn't
know what I was getting in to, but ever since that initial sumptuous
taste, I have been in love and obsessed with this classic Greek
casserole. Moussaka at first may appear to be a wintry meal, but late
summer with its abundance of dark purple eggplants or aubergines is
truly the perfect opportunity for making this dish. For me the sight of
an eggplant around this time of year automatically equals moussaka. And
truth be told, I love it so much that I usually end up eating the
entire casserole all by myself.
This love, however, doesn't come
so easy. The recipe takes real time and preparation, but it's
wholeheartedly worth it. Many components can be made ahead, in
particular the meat filling. The day before I plan to make this meal,
perhaps for a summer dinner party, I prepare the simple ground-meat
filling. Late the next morning of the dinner, I'll fry the eggplant
slices for the layers. Then about an hour before guests begin to
arrive, I'll make the béchamel sauce, start the assembly, and bake.
After the casserole has a chance to cool for easier slicing and
serving, it's ready to be enjoyed with a chilled glass of Greek white
wine.
Minty Mushy Peas
Mushy peas are a traditional side dish to the British classic - Fish & Chips. I was recently in London for the Queen’s Jubilee and stayed at the incredibly beautiful Corinthia Hotel.
It is truly one of London’s best properties. The hotel’s restaurant, The Northall, features "traditional British fare focusing on seasonal produce supplied by artisanal producers from around the British Isles."
Without hesitation, I chose the Deep Fried Haddock in Beer Batter, chips and “proper mushy peas”. My version of mushy peas may not be “proper”, but they are delicious.
Bright, vibrant green with just a hint of mint, they’re great with fish or chicken. Use caution when pulsing with the food processor, you want them coarsely mashed, not pureed.
Roasted Garlic and Potato Dip
Greek cuisine features many great snacks and nibbles from olives to pastries and dips. An easy dip to make is skordalia. Recipes vary regionally, but generally feature garlic, extra virgin olive oil and potatoes though sometimes egg yolks, almonds or bread as well. The problem for me is raw garlic which gets more and more potent over time. The solution? Roast garlic.
Roast garlic is sweet and soft and most important, mellow. It won't overpower most dishes like this skordalia inspired dip made with potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and roast garlic, instead of raw. Not only is this dip good for Passover, it's vegetarian (vegan if you use vegan mayo) and gluten free! That is if you use a gluten free mayonnaise, which adds additional creaminess to the dip.
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