What It Is

Americans have long held great affection for Mexican food. Many American cooks enjoy recreating such Mexican recipe favorites as enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, and other spicy, colorful dishes. Aside from the intrigue of the recipes themselves, however, Mexican food history is just as interesting and fun. Get to know the roots of an American favorite that hails from south of the border.

While it is believed that Mexican food has strong roots in the ancient Mayan culture, it was the Spanish invasion of Mexico in 1521 that most strongly influenced the dishes. The Spanish explorer Cortez and his followers brought with them new types of livestock like pigs, cows, and sheep. They also brought dairy products and various herbs and spices like garlic.

While Cortez introduced many new foods to Mexico, he was also, in turn, introduced to some new foods. Peanuts, chocolate, vanilla, beans, avocados, coconuts, tomatoes, corn, and squash were among the “new” foods that Cortez encountered. It was a well-balanced trade of regional delicacies and palate pleasing foods.

According to Mexican food history, many of the traditional Mexican foods have roots in other cultures as well as the Mexican culture. For instance, quesadillas, a mainstay in Mexico and considered to be authentic Mexican food actually not only have roots in Mexican traditions, but in Spanish as well. The corn tortilla, thought to be quintessential Mexican, is actually native American.

The cheese, pork, beef, and lettuce that grace so many of our favorite Mexican dishes, including the quesadilla, are Spanish. The hot sauce that is made from chili pepper, though, is indigenous to Mexico. However, it is a little known Mexican food history fact that many of the spices thought to be Mexican are actually Spanish in origin. Black pepper, cinnamon, coriander and oregano are several spices that are often used in Mexican cooking but are not native to the country.

In addition to the Mayans, Native Americans and Spanish influencing Mexican food, the French also left their mark. When Mexico was briefly under French occupation in the 1860’s, popular dishes such as chiles en nogado, a dish of stuffed chilies in walnut sauce, was a result. These dishes sport a distinct French flair, but have become a standard part of Mexican culture.

Perhaps one of the best known influences on Mexican food comes from the Southwest United States, Texas to be exact, called “Tex-Mex.” This part of Mexican food history has had a huge impact on not only how Mexican food is prepared and served in the United States, but also how it is perceived. Tex-Mex is a delightful cultural combination of northern Mexico and Southwestern Texas. In fact, it is actually Tex-Mex that is served in many Mexican restaurants today as opposed to authentic Mexican food.

Mexican food history is rich and varied. With so many interesting cultural influences throughout time, it seems that Mexico has been more of a culinary melting pot. What have resulted, however, are delicious foods, rich in flavor that has soared in popularity. It does not seem to be slowing anytime soon.