Bay Leaf
Aromatic leaf used in Mexican broths, stews, and bean pots. Essential Mexican pantry ingredient, found in most traditional recipes.
Estimated retail price
~£1.29 / 10g
Typical price at UK Mexican grocers
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How it's used in Mexican cooking
Bay Leaf, part of the herbs section of the Mexican pantry, appears in more than 20 recipes in our collection, including Red Menudo, Beef Birria and Carnitas Tacos. Each recipe shows step by step how it is added, in what quantity and which other ingredients it is paired with — the most reliable guide to how it is actually used in Mexican cooking.
Recipes with Bay Leaf
Sopas Y CaldosRed Menudo
Sopas Y CaldosBeef Birria
TacosCarnitas Tacos
TacosBirria Tacos (Quesabirria)
StewsCheese-Stuffed Chillies
StewsChicken Tinga
StewsRed Chilli Stew
StewsRopa Vieja
SeafoodVeracruz-Style Fish
StewsMichoacan-Style Carnitas
Street FoodPig's Feet Tostadas
TacosBeef Tongue Tacos
StewsBeef Tinga
StewsMochomos (Crispy Shredded Pork)
StewsMexican-Style Octopus
MeatsDuck Carnitas
TacosBeef Head Tacos
TacosTripe Tacos
SaucesPickled Chillies (Chiles en Escabeche)
Sopas Y CaldosLamb Birria
Storage and substitutes
How to store it
Fresh herbs keep in the fridge wrapped in slightly damp kitchen paper inside a bag or container, and are best used within a few days. Dried versions (oregano, bay leaf, hibiscus flower) go in an airtight jar away from light and hold their aroma for months.
Substitutes
Epazote and hoja santa have very distinctive flavours with no exact substitute; if you can't find them, it's usually better to leave them out than to swap in another herb. Mexican oregano can be replaced with Mediterranean oregano, though its profile is more citrusy.
Frequently asked questions
How many recipes use Bay Leaf?
Bay Leaf is used in more than 20 recipes in our collection, such as Red Menudo and Beef Birria. The full list, with a photo and link for each recipe, is on this page.
Where can I buy Bay Leaf in the UK?
You can buy Bay Leaf online via the Amazon link on this page, or look for it at Latin American grocers in the UK.
How should Bay Leaf be stored?
Fresh herbs keep in the fridge wrapped in slightly damp kitchen paper inside a bag or container, and are best used within a few days. Dried versions (oregano, bay leaf, hibiscus flower) go in an airtight jar away from light and hold their aroma for months.
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