Tarla Dalal
Description
Mexican cuisine is not only colourful and tangy but immensely varied. Yet for some strange reason many people seem to think of it as Nacho chips and T
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acos. Nothing could be further from the truth, as this book will show you. Mexicans love to eat; those who can afford to manage to eat four meals a day. Breakfast starts the day. In the cities, this tends to be light, consisting of sweet rolls and coffee or hot chocolate. At midday, most Mexicans have their main meal, or comida. This meal, a two hour affair, is the centre of daily life for Mexicans. For it the husband comes home from work; the children, from school. After the meal there is usually a siesta, a virtual necessity after so many courses. Later, at around six in the afternoon, it is time for merienda, a small meal similar to the English teatime. The Mexicans drink coffee or hot chocolate and eat cakes and cookies and pastries. Then, sometime between eight and 10 in the evening, there is supper. For those who have made the comida their big meal, supper or cena, will be light. The presentation of food is quite important. Mexican drinks, such as tequila and the wine punch sangria, have become immensely and justifiably popular. Tequila is made from the sap in the starchy roots of the agave plant, a succulent which also provides fiber for twine, mats, and clothing. It is normally colourless, although some types of tequila are aged in a way that gives them a pale yellow colour. While it has a reputation for being very potent, it is actually no stronger than whiskey. It can be drunk straight or made into a delicious cocktail called a Margarita in which lime juice, sugar and a dash of Cointreau or triple sec are added to the tequila. Mexican cuisine begins with tortillas.Tortilla is the bread of Mexico. Tortillas should be present at any Mexican meals and form the basis of some of the more famous Mexican dishes, such as tostadas, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas and nachos.
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