8 Easy Mexican Dishes That You HAVE To Try At Home
Let’s be honest we all bloody love Mexican food, it can do no wrong. Flavourful, vibrant and a little bit naughty, whatever mood you’re in Mexican food is always a good idea. It’s also way easier than you’d think to whip up a fabulously spicy (or mild!) Mexican dish at home. Get your mates over, pour yourself a healthy measure of tequila and grab your apron as these easy Mexican dishes are too tasty to miss. Mas queso por favor?
1. Pulled Pork Burritos
There’s literally nothing better than holding a warm burrito in your hands and knowing your destiny in that instant. Bonus points if the burrito is the size of a wine bottle. All that stands between you and your own burrito creation are a few simple steps. Begin by slow cooking a shoulder of pork with onion and garlic. How long you slow cook the pork for is totally up to you, the longer the better but zero judgment if you give in after two hours. Shred the pork, stir in some chopped tomatoes, refried beans, green chislies, paprika, chilsi powder and season to taste. Ready your flour tortillas and then generously fill them with the pork mixture before rolling it up. Bonus toppings that go really well are grated cheese, sour cream and guacamole. You can literally add whatever you fancy to a burrito, there are no rules – you’re only limited by how much you can fit in the tortilla, especially after the mandatory cooking tequila.
2. Chilli Con Carne
Everybody’s mum (and sometimes dad) makes a great chilli con carne. This is the dish that everybody loves but always forgets about. SUPER quick and simple, it’s traditionally made with beef mince but again as with the burritos, it’s flexible. Got leftover pulled pork? Why the hell not, Chilli Con Pulled Pork! For a traditional chilli con carne, start by browning beef mince with onions, garlic and chopped chillies. Add some paprika, cumin and chilli powder then add chopped tomatoes and some tomato puree before simmering and reducing until it’s the perfect thickness. At this point, it should smell divine – add some kidney beans and get some rice cooked. Best served super hot, but it’s also not bad cold!
3. Pork Pibil
The ultimate comfort food, pork pibil packs a serious flavour hit and is always an impressive dish to make for friends or on date night. Blend up a wet marinade using allspice, cumin seeds, cloves, achiote paste, garlic cloves, cider vinegar, habanero chillies and orange juice. Marinade your pork in the marinade overnight before slow cooking it in the oven at as low a temperature as possible. Lightly shred the pork (you want biggish chunks) and serve in bowls with steamed rice and flour tortillas if you want to go all out. If you’ve got leftover pork over the next few days, use it to make burritos or fajitas! Who doesn’t love easy Mexican dishes?
4. Chicken Fajitas
Fajitas are great because you can open your cupboards, stare in dismay at how few ingredients you have in your kitchen and STILL make something delish. Slice onions and peppers and fry them off with your favourite Mexican spices, go heavy on paprika and cayenne pepper. Add your sliced chicken, lightly sautéing add more spices and season with salt and pepper. Whip out those trusty flour tortillas (the wonder carb) and start plating! Sour cream, guac and a squeeze of lime will really top these off perfectly. Fajitas make the best packed lunch for work the next day too, Susan in accounting will stare daggers. These are some great easy Mexican dishes you have GOT to try!
5. Queso Fundido
Even without translating queso fundido to ‘melted cheese’, you already know you’re in for a treat. If it has fun in the name it’s meant to be. Start by making a quick salsa by chopping tomatoes and chillies, add oregano and salt. Cook down an onion and chopped chorizo and at the same time take any coarsely grated cheese of your choice (cheddar and Monterey Jack work nicely) and toss with flour. Slowly and whilst whisking the pan, add the cheese mixture to the chorizo and onion, stir until melted and bubbling. To serve, spoon your salsa over the queso before thanking the cheese gods for this blessing.
6. Beef Tacos
Another one of the easy Mexican dishes, tacos cannot go wrong. As long as you cook the beef mince and onions down with paprika, cumin, garlic powder and cayenne pepper you can then customise with whatever veg you feel like. Diced peppers, jalapeños and chopped tomatoes can take the mix to a new level. You can plate up with either small flour tortillas or crunchy corn taco shells. Shredded lettuce and sour cream can cool the plate down if you were a bit heavy handed with the spices.
7. Huevos Rancheros
Mexican food isn’t just for dinner. Make brekkie more exciting by giving huevos rancheros a go. It’s packed full of good stuff and will set you up for the day nicely. Lightly fry a small flour tortilla on both sides as prep before cooking a fried egg to your liking. Smash some black beans with a fork and add a squeeze of lime. Spread the bean mixture over the tortilla, pop the egg on top, crumble some feta over the egg and add a splash of chilli sauce if you want the heat. This beats eggs and soldiers hands down.
8. Chipotle Chicken and Avocado Flatbread
Here to save you from tortilla overload is the humble flatbread. Low in calories but high in protein, you can dig in with no guilt. Cover chicken breasts and red onion chunks with chipotle paste, lemon juice, cumin seeds and a pinch of brown sugar. Roast until the chicken is cooked and heat the flatbreads up. Slice the chicken before spreading mashed avocado on the flatbreads. Add the sliced chicken and red onion chunks and finish with a squeeze of lime. These taste unbelievably fresh and light but feel as indulgent as the other dishes!
