What authentic Mexican dishes are fairly easy and good for a crowd?
Posted by: admin / Category: Mexican Authentic
I’m having a Central American-themed party, but would like to break away from the Tex-Mex that usually floods those parties (chips and salsa, queso dip, etc.).
What are some authentic Latin-American dishes that don’t take a ton of prep, but are suitable for snacking on while drinking tequila?
Well, as a Mexican, I find your question difficult. Easy and good for a crowd usually means finger food and finger food usually means dips and chips.
You can make good authentic food that is chips and dip type, but still great.
Guacamole
1 avocado
1/4 of an onion finely chopped
Some cilantro (for a good texture, remove the leafs from the stems and don’t cut them just fold them into the pureed avocado)
Small tomato
Salt to taste
(now, if you want some spice without the heat, take a fresh jalapeño or two and vein and seed them and them chop it into fine cubes and fold in…for some heat, do the same without veining and seeding).
That’s a basic real guacamole (to add anything else is to adulterate perfection).
Now, you can add a can of baby shrimp to the guacamole and this makes it more interesting and more substantive. (You can cut some corn tortillas and deep fry them for a good restaurant flavor, or get some tostitos).
(Now, Central America is not Mexico. Only one of the Mexican states is in Central America. For Central American cuisine, you might think of Pupusas, and other things like that.)
Tequila is from Mexico and I’d stick with Mexican.
In the north of Mexico we make Frijoles a la charra, which is a bean soup and at a party, we might have small cups and spoons. In some northern restaurants, this is an apetizer that is standard to open the meal.
You wouldn’t have to make the beans from scratch. Just get some canned pinto beans and put these into a pot and add some water.
Then chop the following:
1 Onion
2 tomatoes
Some cilantro
Throw in a whole jalapeño or two (don’t puncture it if you just want the flavor)
And, some bacon cut into squares (you can omit this for vegans or Semites)
In a pan cook the bacon and drain the fat and add the onions and tomatoes. Then throw this into the pot with the beans and add the cilantro to the soup. This is a very quick version of the Frijoles a la charra that tastes almost the same as the real thing.
For good refried beans without slaving, get La Costeña brand refried beans.
You can make tostadas with refried beans and top them with some finely chopped lettuce, thin slices of tomato, and some crumbled queso fresco.
You can also make different types of flautas. The basic flauta consists of boiled chicken that has been shredded and put inside a tortilla that has been rolled and then deep fried. You can make the same, but cut the rolled and stuffed tortilla in half and then fry VERY crispy so that it will hold through the party. Put this into a basket lined with parchment or some type of paper towel to absorb the oil.
Have plenty of lime wedges and for real “Mexican” lemons, get Key Limes, cause that’s what we eat in Mexico.
If you have a fondue, you can make some queso fundido with chorizo (Supremo chorizo is sold at most places in the USA, as long as you have a good latin market. You can even get the beef version. Get some Oaxaca (Asadero) cheese, which is a creamy string mozzarella and melt this together. You will need some tortillas or tortilla chips to eat this.
Fajitas (Arracheras) tejanas are also a good northern dish. Just get some REAL fajita (Flank steak, very expensive in some parts but VERY TASTY) and chop into small bits and cook till it’s a nice dark brown in a pan. Add some bacon cut into squares and be sure to drain the fat. Add some mushrooms and cook thoroughly. Top this with Queso Oaxaca and put into a nice casserole dish with some tong-like fork/spoon to facilitate serving. Have some warm corn tortillas ready for your guests to make little tacos of this great food. Some roasted onions are a great side (wrap these whole in foil and once cooked, slice open and top with lime juice and salt and enjoy).
We also make a simple tomato, ice burg lettuce, and onion salad that is dressed with some freshly squeezed key lime juice by each person to taste.
I hope this gives you some ideas.
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Andy Husbands, The Fearless Chef, tastes authentic Mexican cuisine including pig… intestine, ear, and pickled feet.