Viva La Mexico

Viva La Mexico

Let’s taco about this for a second….

It’s Cinco de Mayo - for all you Spanish linguists, yes that’s the 5th of May. A bit of history for you, Cinco de Mayo is the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, a holiday celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in honour of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III. However, I like to see it as a reason to eat of Mexican food and drink copious amounts of margaritas. Not that you ever really need a reason for this, but its always nice to pretend.

Mexican is probably one of my favourite cuisines - it can be as healthy, or as dirty as you want it to be. I’m going to bring you a mixture of both because life is about balance, right? And the perfect Mexican feast would not be complete without a few (a lot) of margaritas.

Mexican food is all about big, powerful flavours and that’s precisely what these recipes will deliver…

Mexican Rice Salad

This really is a colourful bowl of pure delight to put down on the table and will be loved by everyone. The nuttiness of the rice goes perfectly with the sweet potatoes and the spices, all lifted with a hint of zingy lime.

The colours in the salad don't just make it aesthetically pleasing, they also have incredible nutritional properties. The purple colour in the rice comes from a compound called anthocyanin, which is the same compound responsible for blueberries colour, and has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. The orange of the sweet potato flesh comes from beta-carotene, a plant-based compound that is converted to vitamin A in our bodies. Vitamin A is critical for a healthy immune system. Sweet potatoes have the richest natural sources of beta-carotene.

Pulled Chicken Tacos with Burnt Pineapple Salsa

This is a marinade which I have perfected over the years, and honestly, it’s so delicious. The slow roasting of the chicken causes it to be so tender and literally fall apart.

The spices are all lifted by the zingy, sweet salsa and then balanced with the creaminess of the avocado. It really is a flavour sensation!

Sweet and Smokey Vegetarian Quesadilla

This recipe is so simple to make and perfect if you are after a cheesy treat - and who isn’t after a cheesy treat right? The smokiness from the spices works so well against the sweet peppers and melted cheese, it really is a crowd-pleaser.

You can also play around here and add black beans or pulled chicken to the filling too if you fancy it.

Margarita

So no Mexican feast is ever complete without being accompanied by a few margaritas.

So the standard recipe is

• 1 part lime juice - it must be fresh,

• 1 part Cointreau and

• 2 parts tequila.

Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, dip it into a plate of sea salt and you are good to go.

Here’s where I like to spice it up a bit. This first thing I want you to do is head to amazon and order a bottle of Tajin. This is a Mexican freeze-dried lime spices salt, and it will take your margarita to the next level. Use it on the rim of your glass instead of sea salt!!! You can also sprinkle this on top of your guac, tacos….anything really!

If you like a bit of heat to your drink, add the margarita mix to a cocktail shaker (or if you don't have one, a nutribullet, or just anything with a lid that you can shake. Add in a red chilli, cut in half with the seeds removed and a few sprigs of coriander and then get shaking….you can also add a tsp of agave or sugar to just balance out the spice and citrus, and BOOM - now that's a cocktail!!!