Mexicana!: For the Love of Tacos, Nachos and All Things Fiesta. Esther Clark
HarperCollinsPublishers
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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2018
FIRST EDITION
Photographs © Faith Mason 2018
Cover design by James Empringham © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2018
Food Stylist: Esther Clark
Prop Stylist: Alex Breeze
A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
Esther Clark asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
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Source ISBN: 9780008301293
Ebook Edition © August 2018 ISBN: 9780008301606
Version 2018-07-16
CONTENTS
It’s fair to say that, until recently, thoughts of Mexican food tended to conjure up a bowl of salty shop-bought tortilla chips piled up with a few under-seasoned, mediocre toppings, or a slightly sad, soggy takeaway burrito. But help is at hand! In the following pages, such uninspiring stereotypes are turned on their head. Out with the bland and stodgy and in with vibrant, spicy flavours and delicious fresh textures: soft homemade tacos filled with slow-cooked marinated pork shoulder or crispy squid and chipotle aioli (here and here); jugs of margarita spiked with seasonal fruit flavours (here); and thick wedges of sweet tres leches cake topped with boozy coconut rum cream (here).
Mexicana is ideal for sharing. So, seat yourself comfortably, push up your sleeves and get stuck in: salsas for dipping into, nachos for pulling apart and tacos to fill and roll up in a delicious bundle. There is a time and a place for meticulously planned dinner parties, with individual courses served one after another. But this isn’t it! When you’re feeling a little more casual, there’s something to be said for piling food into bowls and onto big sharing platters, laying the table with a funky cloth, filling glasses with ice-cold margaritas, passing round the napkins and digging in while catching up with friends and family. There are no rules for how to serve these dishes, so you can mix and match to suit everyone’s taste. Invite friends round after a drink at the pub for a shared feast; dig into Breakfast Tacos with your housemates after a heavy night out; or simply share a bowl of nachos with your partner on a cosy Saturday evening in. In Mexicana! there are recipes for the Mexican purist and twists on more traditional dishes but, either way, these colourful, well-balanced recipes, packed with delicious ingredients, are here to ignite your inner fiesta!
WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR STORE CUPBOARD
When venturing into Mexicana a number of ingredients are essential for creating those iconic Mexican flavours. Some are easily obtainable from major supermarkets such as Waitrose or Sainsbury’s. Others may require a little more digging to track them down. Online stores such as Sous Chef, Mexgrocer and Amazon stock a wide range of exciting Mexican produce.
KEY MEXICAN DRIED CHILLIES
The chilli pepper lies at the heart of many a Mexican dish. Dried Mexican chillies each have their own distinctive character, with varying levels of heat, and each works well in different dishes. Here are a few examples of some good chillies to keep stored in jars in your pantry or kitchen cupboard.
ANCHO:
The ancho is large, dark and prune-like in appearance. Mild heat-wise, with fruity yet bitter notes, it works well in tomato-based dishes.
CHILE DE ÁRBOL:
Long and spindly in appearance, this chilli is grassy in flavour and medium in heat. Try sprinkled on top of a rich Mexican Hot Chocolate or rehydrated in boiling water and stirred through a stew.
CHIPOTLE:
Essentially a fresh jalapeño that has been smoked and dried. Chipotles are deep red in colour and rich and intensely smoky in flavour and aroma. Perfect with dark meat and in salsas. A good staple dried chilli to have in your store cupboard.
HABANERO:
The fieriest of Mexican chillies grown in Latin America, with a shrivelled exterior and fruity yet deeply peppery scent. Be sparing with these fire crackers and rehydrate in boiling water before using. It’s best to use latex gloves when handling them – and avoid all contact with the eyes!
STORE-CUPBOARD ESSENTIALS
AGAVE NECTAR/SYRUP:
A natural sweetener in liquid form. Use to add sweetness when mixing margaritas (