At its heart, Mexican cuisine is a party of aromas, tastes and colors. The spiciness comes from the countless varieties of dried and fresh chili peppers and is balanced with avocado, ripe tomatoes and fresh coriander.
Mexican dishes are brimming with life. The most common products, such as corn, chili peppers, tomatoes, avocados, beans and chocolate are complemented by what the Spanish brought over in the 16th century: rice, wheat, Eastern spices, milk and cheese, as well as chicken, pork and lamb meat. Today's image of Mexican cuisine grew out of this foundation.
Street food is an important element of the food culture, especially tacos, tamales and quesadillas. Even Anthony Bourdain himself claims that the best street food cart vendors can be found in Mexico.
One of the favorite foods that Mexicans regularly eat on the go is elote - grilled corn served with mayonnaise, Cotija cheese, a little chili and lime. In the large Mexican street markets, they offer juices, similar to fresh-squeezed, as well as mango jam with chili or tamarind.
Burritos are very similar to Arabic durum kebab, in essence a stuffed pita. But the ingredients used are different. The roll is made from corn flour without any yeast and is grilled lightly or steamed before consumption to soften it, while the filling depends on the specific region. Traditionally in Mexico they put refried beans, meat or rice, while in the US they add other ingredients like cheese, lettuce, cream, avocado and others.
Tortillas and tacos turn out to be a an excellent means of expression for meat eaters (examples: tortillas with chicken, beef or pork), as well as vegetarians who take their own spin on the original according to their own preferences.
Another Mexican favorite that can be bought at a street vendor cart is tostadas. A tostada is a small fried bread cut out from a tortilla. On it they usually put chicken bits, sprinkled with balsamic vinegar or tabasco and a spoon of tomato salsa. This, of course, is only an example, because tostadas spur the imagination and can be made with all sorts of ingredients.
