Mexican Cooking with Delicious Pumpkin

By: Christine Szalay Kudra Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Do you know which is the most commonly used vegetable in Mexican cooking? Most people would guess it to be either tomato or chili pepper. Both of these vegetables are common in Mexican food but there are also many different traditional Mexican recipes containing lots of different vegetables. A lot of the real authentic Mexican food recipes are not very well known outside Mexico.

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! Like other hard-shelled squashes, pumpkin is a versatile vegetable and this is a quality, which has long been recognized by Mexican cooks.

Pumpkin has been used as an ingredient in authentic Mexican meals for hundreds of years; 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.

Copyright (c) 2009 Christine Szalay Kudra

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Authentic Mexican food is healthy and delicious and you will never get tired of it because there are so many Mexican recipes to choose from. Traditional Mexican foods combine fresh ingredients with top quality produce and clever seasoning combinations for amazing results. Mexican meals are healthy and full of flavor, as well as easy to make. To find out more about Mexican foods, visit: www.mexicanfoodrecipes.org/Mexican-Recipes/index.php