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Easy Mexican Cooking With Pumpkins
If you ask someone who is not from Mexico what the most common vegetables in Mexican cookingare, they will probably think for a minute and they reply either chili peppers or tomatoes. Thesevegetables are used in Mexican cooking but there are plenty of other vegetables used to make mealsall over Mexico. Traditional Mexican recipes are vegetable rich and Mexicans love using freshproduce. Many such recipes are not well known outside the country however.
It is indeed unfortunate that Mexican vegetable dishes have not yet won their rightful place asfavorites on tables north of the border, but the more people learn about these recipes and the morethey try cooking them for themselves, the more popularity they earn.
Pumpkin is a common vegetable in Mexico and it features in many Mexican dishes. Probably not thevegetable you would expect to see on the menu and of course, you probably are not going to see anypumpkin dishes at your local Mexican restaurant. However, this is beginning to change, with well-known chefs like Rick Bayliss beginning to popularize the vegetable in a Mexican culinary context.This has encouraged lots of home cooks to try out their own Mexican pumpkin recipes.
Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere
Mexican pumpkin recipes include a lot of variety, from the popular pumpkin candy dulce deCalabasas to Mexican pumpkin soups to dishes where it is braised, stewed and even mashed andused as a topping for tostadas and as a taco filling! Pumpkin is a versatile vegetable like many otherhard shelled squash varieties and Mexican chefs are well aware of this particular quality.
Pumpkin has been used as an ingredient in authentic Mexican meals for hundreds of years; this typeof vegetable is believed to have originated in North America and been growing in Mexico longerthan anywhere else. Actually, pumpkin seeds have been discovered in Mexico and some are believedto be almost nine thousand years old!
As you would expect from this fact, Mexican cooks have had a lot of time to become familiar with thepumpkin and to develop a lot of different Mexican pumpkin recipes. This vegetable is used in nearlyevery way imaginable in Mexican cuisine, playing both starring and supporting roles in a great manydishes.
Every Part of the Pumpkin - Almost
You may find pumpkin braised with tomatillos and chilies, blended into a spicy soup with beans andherbs or in any number of other ways. Even pumpkin seeds are a common ingredient in traditionalMexican recipes. Roasted pumpkin seeds are used in many different recipes as well as being eatenon their own as a snack.
One of the best-known uses for pumpkin seeds in Mexican cooking is in some types of mole sauce.Not every mole features these seeds, but the famed mole verde of central Mexico relies on thisingredient for its nutty flavor and satisfying mouth feel.
Traditional Mexican food includes a lot of ingredients, which may not immediately come to mind forthe average American. However, once you sample some of the amazing vegetable dishes, which thecountry has to offer, you may find yourself with a whole new list of favorite Mexican recipes.
