Today is Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May), which commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
The Mexicans hardly need an excuse for a celebration, but this is one of their favourite days of the year and is a time for eating, drinking and spending time with friends.
We are no strangers to Mexican food here in the SK Kitchen, given Tex-Mex is one of our specialities, so there was no way we would let the day pass with celebrating everything that is great about Mexican food.
There is no set traditional food for Cinco de Mayo, as foods vary between the families and the regions of Mexico, combining native Aztec foodstuffs, with a rich variety of items brought by Spanish conquistadors and settlers.
Here, in no particular order, are some of our favourites:
Beef tacos – so easy to make but so delicious. Ensure you use quality minced beef and if you feeling adventurous make your own salsa by combining tomatoes, onion, coriander and lime; and guacamole by combining avocados, lime and crème fraiche.
Chilli con carne – another classic, but try using dark chocolate in the sauce; it goes fantastically well with Chilli and produces a real bold flavour.
Chicken mole – a bit like a chilli con carne, but this is a dark, sweet and spicy stew with peanuts – what’s not to like about that!
Quesadillas – If you ever want to make a snack in a hurry, heat a frying pan and dry fry two soft tortillas until they just start to brown, then fill with melted cheese, yum yum!
Huevos Rancheros – if you haven’t tried this Mexican class breakfast, then you are missing. The translation is ‘rancher’s eggs and they comprise fried eggs served on lightly fried corn tortillas topped with a tomato-chilli sauce and refried beans. After this, you’ll never want a full English breakfast again!
Barbecued corn – boil some corn on the cob, dry, brush with butter and seasoning and lightly toast on a preheated griddle pan. Roll the corn in some more buyer, sprinkle with paprika and cheese and et voila!
You will need something to wash this amazing food down, but please don’t dare drink the mass produced, watery beers that require you to put a lime in the neck to disguise the taste! The Mexicans make great craft beer and one of our personal favourites is anything made by the Day of the Dead brewery. Check out their range here.
That will hopefully have whetted your appetite so celebrate Cinco de Mayo with us by eating some damn fine Mexican food.
About Neil Shaefer
Marketing & Communications Executive of SK Foods.
Your food. Our Passion.
