Mexico

What About Beef? It Is In Mexico!

When you think of Mexican food, most people will think of beef. We have all eaten beef burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. Beef is one of the primary industries in northern Mexico. When the Spanish invaded Mexico in the 1500s, they found that cattle would fit in perfectly in northern Mexico’s fields and plains. They built large ranches for raising their cattle.

Cabrito, or goat, mutton, beef and pork make up a large part of the cuisine in northern Mexico. These types of meat are normally marinated before cooking to tenderize the meat and add flavor. We normally think of beef rather than the other choices when we consider Mexican food. The real trick is to cook it slowly over the course of the day to get the meat tender.

Boiled beef can be shredded and used in a wide variety of recipes from tacos to chimichangas to enchiladas and more. The special seasonings used in Mexico make the beef taste wonderful as it melts in your mouth. Cumin, oregano, and chilies are used daily when seasoning beef. Cilantro can be used to give beef that authentic Mexican flavor.

Northern Mexico is also home to many wheat fields, so flour tortillas are the norm, rather than the common corn tortillas further south. Beef is often wrapped in flour tortillas to make quesadillas and burritos. Mexico is famous for their flavorful beef stews that simmer all day long to create a delicious meal at the end of a long day.

Beef is commonly cooked as pot roast in Mexico. The beef is browned and then removed from the pan. The fat that was rendered from the beef is used to cook up roasted tomatoes, tomatillos, and chilies into a thick sauce. Broth and water are added and the beef is returned to finish cooking. More veggies are added once the meat is tender enough to fall off the bone.

What we know as barbecue is known as barbacoa in Mexico. Meat of all kinds can be roasted over indirect heat in a covered pit or in a brick oven until the meat is tender and delicious. The cooked meat can then be used in many different dishes or eaten as soon as it is done.

As you get to know Mexican food better, you will see that for the best results you should always use fresh ingredients. Canned and frozen foods just do not add much to the recipe. Fresh ingredients are more nutritious and have more complex flavors. Using slow cooking methods, you can also get great results with less expensive cuts of meat. You do not need to spend a lot to create a meal your family will love.

Mexican cuisine makes the most of many types of meat, not just beef. Turkey, rabbit, goat, pork, sheep, and seafood are all delicious in Mexican recipes. Do not be afraid to try something different. Cooked properly, the meat is always tender and delicious. It is worth it to spend the time to learn how to use Mexican cooking methods and seasonings when you are cooking beef. Your family will love the results.

Want to try some easy Mexican food recipes? Surprise your family with a creamy flan or a delicious empanada recipe. These foods are more than Mexican fast food. They contain the true flavors of this rich, complex cuisine. Once you try them, you’ll understand the difference.

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