Mexican cuisine is a tapestry of rich flavors, vibrant colors, and deep-rooted traditions. While it has a history spanning centuries, modern Mexican cooking brings fresh perspectives, innovative techniques, and creative twists to this beloved culinary heritage. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll embark on a journey through the world of modern Mexican cooking, where traditional ingredients meet contemporary flair, and time-honored recipes receive exciting makeovers.

1. Embracing Traditional Foundations

Modern Mexican cooking pays homage to its traditional roots by celebrating the heart and soul of classic dishes. Tacos, enchiladas, tamales, and guacamole remain iconic staples. To get started, familiarize yourself with these classics. There are numerous online resources, videos, and tutorials that guide you through the art of crafting these traditional delights.

2. Elevating Ingredients with Creativity

One of the hallmarks of modern Mexican cooking is the artful use of ingredients. Avocados, chiles, corn, and beans take center stage, but modern twists introduce unexpected combinations. Imagine mango-infused salsas, chipotle-chocolate desserts, or hibiscus-flavored beverages. Experimentation is key, and online cooking classes can help you navigate the balance between tradition and innovation.

3. From Street Food to Gourmet Delights

Modern Mexican cuisine bridges the gap between humble street food and gourmet dining. Street tacos loaded with inventive fillings, such as Korean barbecue-inspired meats or grilled cactus, showcase the fusion of global flavors. Simultaneously, upscale restaurants reinterpret traditional dishes with a sophisticated touch. Online platforms offer insights into recreating both street-style simplicity and high-end elegance in your kitchen.

4. Embracing Regional Diversity

Mexico’s culinary landscape is as diverse as its geography. Each region boasts its own unique flavors and ingredients. From the coastal seafood delicacies of Baja California to the hearty stews of the Yucatán Peninsula, every corner of Mexico contributes to the rich tapestry of modern Mexican cooking. Dive into online resources that highlight the distinct characteristics of various regional cuisines.

5. Craft Cocktails and Beverages

Modern Mexican cooking extends beyond the plate to include a vibrant array of beverages. Mezcal and tequila-based cocktails, such as the smoky Mezcal Negroni or the zesty Paloma, exemplify the contemporary Mexican cocktail scene. Online tutorials can help you master the art of mixology, allowing you to pair your meals with refreshing and culturally rich drinks.

6. Online Resources and Culinary Communities

The digital age has transformed the way we access culinary knowledge. Online cooking courses, recipe blogs, and social media platforms provide a plethora of resources for modern Mexican cooking. Engage with passionate food enthusiasts, share your culinary experiments, and gather inspiration from fellow learners as you embark on your modern Mexican culinary journey.

7. Innovation and Tradition: A Harmonious Fusion

In conclusion, modern Mexican cooking encapsulates the essence of tradition while embracing innovation. It’s a dynamic culinary realm that invites you to explore, experiment, and celebrate the richness of Mexican flavors in new and exciting ways. With online resources at your fingertips, you can embark on a flavorful adventure, paying homage to centuries-old traditions while infusing them with your own creative spirit. So don your apron, gather your ingredients, and let the vibrant world of modern Mexican cooking unfold in your kitchen.

A table set with Mexican soup and crispy rolled tortillas.

Like any cultural cuisine, Mexican cuisine is diverse and vibrant. Every home, neighborhood, and region has its own version, and the modern Mexican recipes shared by restaurateur and cook writer Gabriela Camara are no different.

In both her cook and her restaurant, she celebrates local, sustainable agriculture. He believes that the quality of ingredients makes a dish, but understanding how to balance a dish can make it. He clearly states that his recipes and approach are not an eye-opener but a guide to Mexican food. That’s how she eats and carries Mexican food, and that’s how she shares it with you.

Ask a Seal: Gabriella Kumara

I interviewed Gabriela and combed through the pages of her beautiful book, My Mexico City Kitchen: Recipes and Convictions to discover the essentials for making Mexican food at home.

While Gabriela respects Mexican culinary traditions, he doesn’t adhere to them, and neither do you. However, he wishes that you sourced the highest quality, most durable products available to you. Most of all, it’s that you have fun.

Learn the basics, then learn how to combine them with variations to reveal endless possibilities.

Essential Ingredients for Mexican Food

In the opening pages of My Mexico City Kitchen, Gabriela says, “…the fewer ingredients there are in a dish and the more care you have to take in preparing it,” this is true because each way has a quality and a high character. gives.

Salsa:

Gabriella suggests how to make a good, moderately spicy green and red salsa. They will keep in the fridge for several days, so you can use them on top of eggs, fish, chicken, etc.

MASA:

A corn-based wet dough made from nuxtamalized white or yellow corn. It is used to make tortillas and tamales.

Fresh masa:

If you live in an area with tortillas, you can make it fresh. If you solve the problem, freshen it and use it inside, it cannot be fermented.

Masa Harina:

Commonly available in supermarkets. It’s just a dehydrated mass. It is sold in the same way as flour is sold. It looks like corn meal. Step up Gabriella Bob’s Pulse Mill Non-GMO, Organic Masa Harina.
Beans: Use dry beans if possible. This requires some extra planning, but a coat and more is better than anything you can find in a box. It takes time to eat and drink, so that their age is seen. Experimenting with heirlooms Gabriela suggests ordering them online from Rancho Gordo if you can’t get them locally. When it comes to dry beans, he has nothing else to do:

Gabriella beans are not pre-soaked, as the skins tend to blister.
Do not get too much salt in the cooking process.
Do not overcook the beans.
Boil them ahead
Add herbs, garlic and other spices.
Rice: Gabriella’s, Mexican rice is often colored with purees, bringing both green flavor and texture to the plate. They outgrow long-grain white rice that is consistently developed.

Herbs/Flavors:

“I believe in moderation when cooking, Gabriela Mil” in your interview, “but needs more than one of these ingredients, usually eg onion, garlic. , oregano, epazote, or cayenne pepper are very basic to packing ‘Mexican’, but none are really used alone.

Epazote:

This herb is used both fresh and dried. The freshest leaves provide the strongest flavor, and are commonly used in Mexican cuisine and cooking. This herb is often added to fruit to help with digestion and give it an earthy flavor.

Understanding taste
Both salt and pepper are used to balance the heat in a dish, but Mexican food is not about heat.

“I believe there is a common misconception that Mexican food has to be spicy to be authentic and it really isn’t,” says Gabriela. is needed because it doesn’t overpower all the other ingredients in the dish or sauce unless you want to make a super special spicy sauce for a particular dish that can sustain it and match it.

Chili peppers, salsas, herbs, spices, and salt are all used to balance flavors in Mexican cooking. A bite can be bright, acidic, smoky and spicy.