It’s easy to fall in love with Mexican food. The fresh, flavorful ingredients offer an exciting cuisine. With the touch of spice, Mexican food is easily a popular favorite for many. However, Mexican food involves more than just tacos and salsa.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into the differences between authentic Mexican food and Mexican food in America.
Traditional Mexican Food vs. Tex-Mex
Many dishes which are classified as authentic Mexican dishes are in fact, Tex-Mex. The list includes burritos, hard shell tacos, Mexican cheese, salsa in jars, and fajitas.
The American variants use many ingredients you won’t find in traditional Mexican dishes. Tex-Mex is a cuisine hailing from Texas and other areas bordering Mexico.
The inspiration for these dishes comes from traditional Mexican food, but the American version has a narrower list of essential ingredients. Some Tex-Mex recipes also incorporate Mediterranean and Spanish flavors, which you won’t find in Mexican originals. Authentic Mexican dishes are also spicier than their US counterparts.
Here are some of the differences between these two cuisines.
Soft vs. Hard Shell Tacos
American tacos have hard shells, while the originals from Mexico have a soft tortilla. The Tex-Mex version is larger in size and uses iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and spiced beef. On the other hand, the original is smaller and uses a variety of meat and may also include seafood.
Mexican Cheese
When you see Mexican cheese in the grocery store, you can be sure it’s not authentic. How can you know it’s the real deal? The original is white, tangy, and nuanced because they’re used to balance the spiciness of the peppers many Mexicans love
Burritos Or Wheat Flour Tacos AKA Tacos de Harina
The burrito we all enjoy today is an American invention. It’s huge, filling, complete with rice, beans, sour cream and every other ingredient. The original recipe inspiring it is called tacos de Harina or wheat flour tacos, which hail from Mexico’s deep south. Tacos de Harina uses seafood or meat with chiles, white cheese, beans, and rice.
Pico de Gallo Not Salsa
It should be evident the bottled salsa from the store isn’t the original pico de gallo from Mexico. The original recipe is spicy, flavorful and fresh. Unique, authentic ingredients include cilantro and a mix of chopped vegetables.
Chilaquiles or Nachos?
Yes, you’ll find nachos in Mexico. However, the original recipe that served as the inspiration for this dish is the humble Chilaquiles.
Chilaquiles are also known as breakfast nachos. These are fried tortillas often served with a fried egg and simmered with salsa – the original one, not the bottled variants. Enjoy these lightly fried quarter corned tortillas with some pulled chicken. They also go well with refried beans if it’s the only thing you’ve got in the fridge.
Fajitas
The word fajita means “little strip,” which refers to the strips of beef or chicken served with this dish. The word only appeared in print beginning in 1971. Food historians believe the recipe originated in West and South Texas in the 1930s.
The original Mexican recipe inspiring the fajita’s creation is called the Cochinita Pibil. It’s slow-roasted pork with more meat than just the strips in the Tex-Mex dish. The pork for the Cochinita Pibil is marinated in juice extracted from citrus fruits. It’s then colored using annatto seeds and lastly, wrapped in banana leaves.
Enchiladas
The American and Mexican enchiladas closely resemble each other, which is some point of agreement between the two cuisines. The US version has more ground beef and may use gravy. The original has less meat and goes perfectly with vegetables.
Experience Authentic Mexican Food At Benito’s Restaurant
Now you know the differences between Tex-Mex and traditional Mexican food, it’s time for you to experience what the original tastes like. Benito’s Restaurant has been serving authentic Mexican recipes since 1981. We are also famous for serving legendary margaritas, which go well with our authentic recipes. Book now and enjoy the traditional dishes of Mexico today.
FAQs
In the States, it seems like every Mexican dish needs all the cumin. In Mexico we use sour cream, but not nearly as much. In Mexico most of the ingredients are fresh, versus all the canned stuff in the US. In Mexico, enchiladas are typically made with corn tortillas, while in the US they use a lot of flour ones.
How is Mexican food unique? ›
Traditional Mexican food history runs deep.
It began with simple, native foods and flavors found only in Mexico. Most of the indigenous ingredients used were beans, vanilla, peanuts, tomatoes, chili peppers, and coconuts. Spices were also abundant and this gave their food a distinct taste.
What are the variations of Mexican food popular in the United States? ›
Culinary staples like tortillas, salsa, chips, chili, burritos, and tacos help to formulate many Americans' notions of Mexican food. Due in part to big business, immigration, and widespread likability, Mexican food and dishes have largely become regular constituents in American homes.
What makes Mexican culture different from American culture? ›
In Mexico, people are generally more comfortable standing close to each other during conversations, and touching or patting someone on the back during interactions is common. In the USA, personal space is more pronounced, and people tend to maintain a greater distance during conversations.
What makes New Mexican food different from Mexican food? ›
New Mexican food can mostly be characterized by its ingredients. The main ingredient in this cuisine is chiles that derive from Pueblo cuisine. Green chiles are used in most of the dishes and usually roasted over the fire. A green chile sauce is created and poured over enchiladas, burritos, and sopaipillas.
What food is rarely eaten in Mexico? ›
- Chili con carne may have origins in Mexico, but the truth is that it's not a thing in Mexico, and many people here have no idea what chili con carne is. ...
- Taco Bowls aren't a thing in Mexico. ...
- Hard-Shell/Crispy Tacos like the ones from Taco Bell isn't a thing in Mexico.
For example, tequila, mariachi music, embroidered sombrero and costume of the charro (gentleman rancher) originated in the west of Mexico. Each region/state generally has a unique cultural identity and accompanying cuisine, folk songs and craftsmanship that residents are very proud of.
What is a fun fact about Mexican food? ›
While most international cuisines use tomatoes, this vegetable originated in Mexico. In fact, they didn't make their appearance in Italian kitchens until Spain brought them over from the Aztecs. As you make authentic Mexican food, you'll almost always have tomatoes in the recipe, both red and green.
Why don't Mexicans put cheese on tacos? ›
However, cheese is not a traditional ingredient in the original Mexican-style taco. It was only when tacos made their way to America that cheese became a common addition. So, technically speaking, Mexican tacos do not have cheese.
What do Mexicans call tacos? ›
From the corn tortillas they make the crispy tacos, soft tacos and taquitos. With the flour tortillas they make soft tacos, taquitos,burritos and chimichangas (toasted burritos). People out of Mexico have an extra meaning for the word “taco” which will be the heel of the shoes and in Mexico it is called “tacones”.
In Mexico, tacos don't have lettuce on them. Or tomatoes, Or cheese. Authentic tacos are filled with high-quality marinated meats (or vegetables), & are delicious as they are. They don't need extra trimmings that you find on less traditional tacos.
How is Mexico and US food different? ›
They both are prepared with ingredients commonly found locally. American food uses a wide variety of ingredients since its origin is from different countries while Mexican food is usually prepared using avocado, chili peppers, corn, and other fresh herbs and ingredients that are available in Mexico.
How is Mexican food different from other cultures? ›
Some of the most commonly used ingredients in Mexican cooking are garlic, onions, cilantro, oregano, cumin and chilies. Believe it or not, over 100 different chili varieties are used in Mexican cooking. Cinnamon, cloves and cocoa are also used in ways we typically do not see in North American or European dishes.
What makes Mexican food unique? ›
Mexican dishes are known for their bold and spicy flavors, colorful presentation, and the use of fresh ingredients such as avocado, tomatoes, chilies, and corn. Traditional Mexican flavors like mole, adobo, and salsa add an extra layer of complexity and depth to the dishes.
What is the difference between Mexican and Hispanic food? ›
Spanish cuisine often relies on olive oil, garlic, saffron, tomatoes, and seafood such as cod, anchovies, and squid. Mexican cuisine makes abundant use of ingredients like corn, beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, avocados, and a wide range of fresh herbs and spices.
What is the difference between Mexican burritos and American burritos? ›
Rice isn't a standard ingredient in real Mexican burritos. The burritos you will find south of the border will vary region to region but they are less complex than American or Tex Mex burritos. Usually they are meat, vegetables and a sauce, no rice. Rice is American thing.
How did tacos change after arriving in the US? ›
Organs were replaced with the more palatable ground beef and chicken. Cheddar cheese, cool lettuce, tomato became standard fillings. This became known as the ultimate taco to Americans whose traditional cuisine favored more subtle flavors. In short, the taco was becoming something of a Mexican-American fusion.
How has Mexican food changed over time? ›
How did Mexican food evolve? Mexican food has a foundation in Indigenous Latin American foods like corn, beans, and squash. Colonization by the Spanish introduced livestock animals like beef, pork, and chicken, as well as dairy. Colonization also disrupted certain native foods like corn and amaranth in favor of wheat.
