Pumpkin - The Forgotten Vegetable in Mexican Cooking

You might think of chili peppers and tomatoes when
considering popular Mexican vegetables or least those
commonly making an appearance in Mexican food. Chilies and
tomatoes are used to flavor lots of Mexican meals but there
are plenty of other vegetables that Mexicans like to use to
make meals. Many authentic Mexican recipes are little known
outside of the country though.

It is indeed unfortunate that Mexican vegetable dishes have
not yet won their rightful place as favorites on tables
north of the border, but the more people learn about these
recipes and the more they 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 the vegetable you would
expect to see on the menu and of course, you probably are
not going to see any pumpkin 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 de Calabasas to Mexican pumpkin
soups to dishes where it is braised, stewed and even mashed
and used as a topping for tostadas and as a taco filling!
Pumpkin is a versatile vegetable like many other hard
shelled squash varieties and Mexican chefs are well aware
of this particular quality.

Pumpkin has been a part of traditional Mexican food for
many centuries; this type of vegetable is believed to have
originated in North America and been growing in Mexico
longer than anywhere else. Actually, pumpkin seeds have
been discovered in Mexico and some are believed to 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 the pumpkin and to
develop a lot of different Mexican pumpkin recipes. This
vegetable is used in nearly every way imaginable in Mexican
cuisine, playing both starring and supporting roles in a
great many dishes.

Every Part of the Pumpkin - Almost

You may find pumpkin braised with tomatillos and chilies,
blended into a spicy soup with beans and herbs or in any
number of other ways. Even pumpkin seeds are a common
ingredient in traditional Mexican recipes. Roasted pumpkin
seeds are used in many different recipes as well as being
eaten on 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 this ingredient for its nutty flavor and
satisfying mouth feel.

Traditional Mexican food includes a lot of ingredients,
which may not immediately come to mind for the average
American. However, once you sample some of the amazing
vegetable dishes, which the country has to offer, you may
find yourself with a whole new list of favorite Mexican
recipes.

----------------------------------------------------
Mexicans enjoy good food and, if you like to eat well, you
will find that authentic Mexican cooking is a way of
combining tasty ingredients including plenty of fresh
produce to make amazing tasting food. If you want to try
making a Mexican food recipe there are hundreds of
different ones to have a go at.

We have lots of easy Mexican recipes for you at:
http://www.mexicanfoodrecipes.org/Mexican-Recipes/index.php

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