A Mexican Fiesta: Food and Recipes Galore

Black chickpea, crab and fennel verrine recipe with apple and avocado

Check out this recipe via La Tartine Gourmande that combines chickpeas, crab and fennel in a ceviche-like mixture that is perfect for lunch outdoors. 

You need:

• 200 g (1 heaped cup) cooked black chickpeas
• 200 g fresh crab meat, diced
• 1 large avocado, pitted and finely diced
• 1 medium fennel bulb, finely sliced
• 1 medium red apple, cored and finely diced
• Black sesame seeds, to taste
• 6 pink radishes, finely sliced

Dressing:

• Sea salt
• 2 limes
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (or fresh)
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped coriander
• 2 tablespoons hazelnut oil
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• Red peppercorn, ground, to taste

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the lime juice with the sea salt, garlic, and ginger.
• Add the oils and whisk to emulsify.
• Season with ground red peppercorn to taste, and stir in the coriander. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, crab meat, avocado and apple. Toss gently with the fennel and radishes.
• Add the dressing and toss gently. Sprinkle with black sesame seeds, and serve.

Tequila-Lime Chicken Taco Recipe

If you’re looking for ideas on how to delight friends and family at upcoming Superbowl parties, making finger-friendly food such as tacos is a great idea. Here are a few recipes that are as delicious as the tacos you know and love, but with more new, varied ingredients to switch it up. 

Tequila-lime chicken taco recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 tablespoon tequila
• 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus extra for cooking
• 1 tablespoon diced jalapeno
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into large chunks

Directions:

1. Whisk together first six ingredients.
2. Add chicken and marinate for three to four hours.
3. Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade.
4. In a large pan, coat with canola oil and heat on medium-high. Add chicken to the hot pan and cook for about seven to nine minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through.
5. Remove chicken from pan.
6. Chop into small pieces.

Serving suggestion: Make chipotle sour cream by adding pureed chipotle in adobo to sour cream. Stir in white vinegar, cumin and salt to taste.

(Source: sheknows.com)

Clementine Sorbet

Clementines are now in season and are a great sweet tweet - and you know what that means…it’s time to make a dessert with them! Their size makes a healthy snack for anytime and an added spray of lemon juice rounds out the citrus flavor. 

Serve them with a touch of frost from the freezer for the perfect winter treat. 

(Source: todaysnest.typepad.com)

White Chili with Ground Turkey

Something to warm you up on a cold day and a great alternative to regular chili? White chili made with ground turkey will let you keep your New Year’s resolution while still reveling in your dinner. 

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the onion, garlic and ground turkey and saute for 10 minutes, or until turkey is well browned. Add the chile peppers, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, cayenne pepper to taste and white pepper to taste and saute for 5 more minutes.
2. Add two cans of the beans and the chicken broth to the pot. Take the third can of beans and puree them in a blender or food processor. Add this to the pot along with the cheese. Stir well and simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt.

(Source: allrecipes.com)

World’s Best Cities for Food: Mexico City

Number 7 on this list of best cities in the world to go to visit for food, is Mexico City. Offering more and more fine and innovative dining, Mexico City is quickly becoming one of the most rich and sophisticated places to visit for dining. Try tacos al pastor, for instance, with shredded pork and chunks of pineapple and other typical tacos ingredients wrapped in the fresh tortilla.  Also, make sure you try chilaquiles: shredded chicken with tortillas, queso fresco and a spicy salsa as a breakfast of champions.

Mexican Black Bean Soup

Eating a good black bean soup is both very healthy and savory. Not only that but the warmth and creaminess make it a comfort-food favorite. Also, remember to serve with thinly diced peppers on top!

Ingredients

• 1
• 4 cups
• 4
• 45 oz.
• 6 Tbsp
• 2
• 2 tsp
• ¼ tsp
• ¼ tsp
• ¼ tsp
• 1 tsp
• 1 Tbsp
• 1 cup
• ½ Tbsp

• Onion, large, chopped
• Chicken broth, strong
• Cloves of garlic, crushed
• Black beans, cooked (3 cans)
• Tomato paste
• Bay leaves, strong
• Coriander, ground
• Cumin, ground
• Chipotle powder
• Chili powder
• Epazote (optional)
• Sherry, dry
• Corn, frozen (optional)
• Extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

1. 1. Chop the onion, crush the garlic, rinse the beans and prepare the spice mix.
2. 2. Over medium heat saute the onion with some of the broth and the bay leaves until translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
3. 3. Add all of the broth. Take out a cup of the beans and save (if you want some whole beans in there). Puree the rest with some of the broth until smooth. Add the beans to the soup. Bring to a boil.
4. 4. Add all the spices, the tomato paste and stir well.
5. 5. Let the soup cook uncovered until it reaches the desired thickness. Even though it might look very liquid at this time it will thicken over time. Stir occasionally and make sure the bottom does not burn. You may want to adjust the heat.
6. 6. Add sherry and adjust the seasoning if necessary (more salt?, more spices? more heat?)
7. 7. Add the frozen corn (if using) and heat for a couple of minutes.
8. 8. Stir in ½ Tbsp into each serving of soup. Add toppings and serve!

(Source: health-foodie.com)

Tropical Fruit Ice

Did you know that Elvis Presley is said to have loved ice cream? His favorites were chocolate milkshakes and peach ice cream. 

For a healthier version of ice cream and a typical Mexican recipe, try a Tropical Fruit Ice recipe.

This Tropical Fruit Ice, for instance, is a dessert that you don’t have to give up when you’re watching calories. Made with Goya Fruit Pulps, it’s a dessert that’s low in calories and packed with delicious fruit flavors, like coconut, tamarind, papaya, mango, and as used here - guanábana (sour sop) and guayaba (guava).

Chicken Apple Quesadilla

This is a lovely Mexican food recipe that kids are sure to love, since it’s the perfect mix of salty and sweet. The best part is, they can get a serving of fruit and not even notice it!

(Source: simplyrecipes.com)