"Nowadays around 94% of the Mexican population consume tortillas in one way or another." - http://clapway.com/2015/06/15/top-10-dishes-with-tortillas/

As many of you know, tortillas are a crucial ingredient in Mexican cuisine. It is important to note that corn is an original cereal from Mexico but is also cultivated in parts of what is now Central America. Tortillas date back to the Aztecs who used them on a daily basis for their cooking. When the Spaniards conquered Mexico they named them tortilla or “little cake”. Tortillas are made out of corn flour although there are some variations such as those made with blue corn, or the so called tortillas de harina which are whiter and mainly consumed in the northern part of Mexico.

Nowadays around 94% of the Mexican population consume tortillas in one way or another. Tortillas are such an important ingredient when it comes to Mexican gastronomy, that some of the most important dishes are made with them. Below you will find the top 10 dishes made with tortilla:

Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles is the favorite breakfast dish for many Mexicans. They consist of fried tortilla pieces, salsa (either green or red), cream and cheese. They are often served with a sunny side up egg on top and black beans. The secret to the best chilaquiles is to pour the hot salsa over them at the last minute so the tortilla pieces are crispy and crunch with each bite.

Tacos

Tacos are the go-to meal for Mexicans, it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, you can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even in the early hours of the morning as a snack. There are many types of tacos one can enjoy, some include eggs, fish, beef, pork and even cheese tacos. The morning favorites are egg tacos, while for lunch some of the most popular ones include arrachera and bistec which are different cuts of beef. Tacos al pastor are also extremely popular throughout the country, they are made out of pork meat which has been marinated with a combination of dried species and chiles, cooked in a vertical rotisserie turning the meat red. The sliced meat is then served with a piece of pineapple in small tortillas.

Flautas

Flautas which means “flutes”are very similar to tacos. The main difference is the size, they are usually longer and thinner. They have different fillings inside ranging from chicken, beef, potatoes and chorizo (spicy pork sausage), to cheese and beans. The tortilla is deep fried making it crunchier, they are served with green or red salsa, cream and cheese on top.

Tostadas

Tostadas come from the Spanish word “toasted” and is given to dishes where the base of preparation includes a toasted ingredient. This dish uses dry tortillas which previously have been fried or toasted and diverse ingredients are placed on top. You can find seafood tostadas such as shrimp, tuna and fish tostadas. Chicken tostadas are also favorites, they are served with a base of black beans with chicken, lettuce, avocado, salsa, cream and cheese on top. It is a fresh dish which is perfect to enjoy in hot weather.

Enchiladas

This dish consists of rolled up corn tortillas with a filling inside and topped with a sauce. Enchiladas verdes or green enchiladas are filled with chicken or cheese and topped with salsa verde. Enchiladas de mole are made out of chicken, cheese or beef and topped with mole a dark sauce made out of different chiles and spices. Enchiladas are served as a main dish in most places and accompanied with rice, the mix of flavors make them delicious. If you are really hungry and want to try a traditional Mexican recipe you must try this one.

Pastel Azteca

Also known as pastel de pobres or cake for the poor. This dish is like a cake with different layers of tortillas that have been lightly fried in oil, salsa and a protein, it can be either chicken, beef or pork. You can also add cheese, corn and slices of poblano chile. It is easy to make and the perfect meal to prepare when you have a large number of people coming over to eat at your house.

Huevos Rancheros

This is a favorite amongst Mexicans especially for breakfast. It is made up of a light fried tortilla topped with a sunny side up egg and salsa on top. The salsa can be either green or red, or you can ask for huevos divorciados (divorced eggs) which are half and half green and red salsa.

Enfrijolada

These are similar to enchiladas and are mostly eaten during breakfast or as a light dinner. Enfrijoladas are made up of a tortilla topped with a black bean salsa with cream and cheese on top. They can also be served with different fillings such as chicken and chorizo (spicy pork sausage).

Sopa de Tortilla

This soup is the most common one with tortilla as a main ingredient. It consists of a tomato, garlic and onion broth with submerged fried tortilla pieces. It is commonly served with shredded cheese which melts in the soup creating an interesting mix of flavors, to which you can add some avocado and cream.

Quesadillas

This is one of the most popular meals in Mexican gastronomy, quesadillas can be eaten at any given time and can be made with diverse ingredients. They are made up of a tortilla filled with cheese and stuffings such as black beans, mushroom, ham or turkey breast. They are cooked in a comal or griddle and folded in half creating a half-moon shape. Its very easy to prepare and Mexicans love to eat them!

Although these are some examples of dishes that can be prepared with tortilla as the main ingredient, there are many others not mentioned here. Mexican gastronomy is so extensive and varies from region to region that many of the dishes use tortilla in some way or another. Tortillas are a must in Mexican meals, regularly as a substitute for bread. Have you eaten any other dish with tortilla in it? I invite you to share what your favorite tortilla dish is. For more information and tips on traveling and food in Mexico and abroad visit michelleonbell.com.

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A sunny day calls for some good Mexican food — but what about those rainy days like today?:

Top 10 Dishes with Tortillas

Beat the Hangover Like a True Mexican - http://clapway.com/2015/06/09/beat-the-hangover-like-a-true-mexican/

Have you ever had a night out, party and then when you wake up in the morning with the worst headache and thirst, you say to yourself never again? As you probably know Mexicans love to party, and oh boy we do it well. Some well-known ammo or staples include tequila, margaritas, mezcal and certainly mariachis.

But as all good things, there is always a cost, and after a night out with more than a fair share of tequila shots, you might end up having a miserable “cruda” or hangover. Good thing that there are certain Mexican recipes that can get you back on track, people know them by heart and rely on them t after a night out. While in most cities, restaurants and bars close sometime after 2 AM, in Mexico City you can drive and find many eating places where the peak hours start precisely after this time. These are some of the most popular dishes you might find in these restaurants:

Chilaquiles

The most common and popular dish for breakfast after a long evening. Chilaquiles are made up of fried tortilla pieces (please don’t think of using Doritos), green or red salsa, cream and cheese. It can also be accompanied with some black beans or even a fried egg on top if you are truly hungry. Urban myth says that the spicier the chilaquiles the more they cure the hangover because the spicy food makes you thirsty, which combats the dehydration since you tend to drink more. If you ever go to a Mexican wedding don’t be surprised when chilaquiles are served around 6 am to prevent a bad hangover the next day.

Micheladas

This drink is prepared with beer, salt, lime and tomato juice. Its important to add tomato juice since this has magnesium, potassium and some antioxidants that help eliminate toxins from your body. Micheladas are just the hangover cure for you.

Pozole

Pozole from the nahuatl pozolli, is a classic in the western states of Guerrero and Michoacán in Mexico. This stew with corn and (beef or pork) meat has several variants depending on each state. You can find green, red and white pozole and still remains a popular hangover cure.

Menudo

A labor intensive soup made out of beef tripe and a spicy broth. Menudo can have some variants depending on what part of Mexico you are located. In northern Mexico people add unground tortilla corn and in the northwest the dish is made without the red chiles and called menudo blanco.

What other home remedies to cure hangovers have you experienced? Don’t be shy and share them with us! For more information and tips on traveling and food in Mexico and abroad visit michelleonbell.com.

Need a hangover cure after drinking on a week night? Try SensorWake for the best of wake up calls on the worst kinds of mornings:

Beat the Hangover Like a True Mexican