The History of Mexican Foods

It is believed that authentic Mexican foods may have originated with the Mayan people. The Mayans were nomadic hunters and gatherers. For them, corn tortillas and bean paste were a common food item. They also ate game meats, tropical fruits and fish. In the mid-1300's the Aztec Empire was doing very well, and although the Mayan food staples were still in use, chili peppers, honey, salt and chocolate found its way into their cooking. Some of the wild game, such as turkey and duck, had now become domesticated.

In 1521, Spain invaded Mexico. Spanish foods began to have a great influence on Mexican cuisine. The Spanish introduced them to new types of livestock including sheep, pigs and cows. The Spanish had brought with them garlic, dairy products, wheat and a variety of spices. At that time that the Mexican people began assimilating many other cuisines, into their diets, including Caribbean, South American, French, West African and Portuguese. Because of this Mexican foods today are diverse.

The earliest people of Mexico did not have ovens. Instead the used cast iron pans, and ceramic pots over an open fire. They also steamed their foods, by wrapping them in banana leaves and suspending them over boiling pots of water. Frying was also quite popular.

The Mexicans ground their ingredients with tools called metate y mano, which were large tools made of lava rock or stone. They used a smaller tool, called a molcaiete, to grind and smash ingredients. The molcaiete is commonly known as a mortar and pestle. The molcaiete is a small bowl that can be made from stone, pottery, hard wood or marble. The pestle is shaped like a baseball bat.

Salsa (the Spanish word for ?sauce?) is one of the most commonly known Mexican foods in today's society. It was once sold in the Aztec market place. Salsa is uncooked, and sometimes pureed until it is chunky, smooth or chopped. Large red tomatoes, tomatillo, chipotle {a staple in the Aztec diet} and the avocado are found in the modern salsa, and are the same core ingredients used in the past.

The Aztecs are the people who gave us chocolate. When the Spaniards invaded Mexico, they brought the chocolate back to Europe with them, in 1657. The use of tortillas as a wrap also can be attributed to the Aztecs. Enchilada's, another currently popular Mexican food, are a tortilla rolled and stuffed usually with a mixture containing meat or cheese and served with a sauce spiced with chili.

The word tomatillo meaning “round and plump” is a Mexican fruit. They resemble a small tomato, but they have a yellow to purple color. The tomatillo dates back as far as 8000 B.C. The Aztecs domesticated the tomatillo, and the Europeans brought them back to Europe with them, although they were never popular there. They have been more popular in Italy.

There were many other foods including the tomale, that were spread throughout the world, because of the many explorers who went to Mexico. In nearly every culture, you can find at least a little piece of Mexico.