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Tips, guides and stories about Mexican cuisine in the US
Welcome to the Recetas Mexas blog, your source for information about Mexican cuisine in the UK. Here you'll find detailed guides about Mexican ingredients, practical tips for cooking authentic dishes with products available in British supermarkets, and articles about the rich culinary culture of Mexico. Explore our recipes, products and restaurants for more.
Our articles cover everything from toasting and rehydrating dried chillies for rich, complex salsas to understanding the difference between corn and flour tortillas and when to use each. Learn traditional techniques like nixtamalisation that give tortillas their distinctive flavour and texture.
Written by our team of Mexicans living in the UK, every article combines first-hand cultural knowledge with practical advice for British kitchens.
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We also publish shop reviews of Latin and Mexican stores across UK cities, product comparisons (which bottled mole is most authentic, what brand of totopos tastes best), seasonal guides (chiles en nogada in September, rosca de reyes in January, pan de muerto in November) and the fascinating stories behind dishes like mole poblano, tamales andpozole that carry centuries of pre-Hispanic and colonial tradition.
Whether you're a complete beginner curious about Mexican cuisine or an experienced cook looking to perfect your technique, our blog has something for every level. All recipes and techniques are adapted for ingredients available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and specialist Mexican shops across the UK.
Latest Articles
How to Host a Mexican Posada Party in the UK
Posadas are Mexico's beloved nine-night Christmas celebration, filled with singing, pinatas, ponche, tamales and bunuelos. Here is everything you need to host an authentic posada party in Britain, from the procession to the menu.
How to host a Mexican posada in Spain
A complete guide to celebrating an authentic Mexican posada in Spain: litanies, piñata, fruit punch, tamales, aguinaldos and the whole Mexican Christmas tradition adapted to your Spanish home.
The History of Chile Peppers and Their Global Impact
From their origins in Mexico 10,000 years ago to their conquest of every cuisine on earth, chile peppers have shaped human history more than any other spice. This is the story of how a small, fiery fruit from the Americas changed the way the world eats.
The history of the chile in world gastronomy
From the Aztecs to the kitchens of Thailand, India and Korea: how the Mexican chile conquered the world and changed forever the way we eat.
Mexican Food for Diabetics: Low-Sugar Recipes
Mexican cuisine offers many naturally low-GI, high-fibre dishes that are ideal for managing blood sugar. This guide covers diabetic-friendly Mexican ingredients, recipes and meal planning strategies using beans, nopales, avocado and more.
Mexican cooking for diabetics: low-sugar recipes
Traditional Mexican cooking can be perfect for people with diabetes. Discover low-glycaemic-index recipes, smart substitutions and a balanced weekly menu.
Mexican Antojitos Explained: A Complete Street Food Glossary
From sopes to tlacoyos, gorditas to pambazos, Mexican antojitos are the soul of the country's street food culture. This comprehensive glossary covers every major antojito, how it is made, what fills it, and where in Mexico it comes from.
The most popular Mexican antojitos explained one by one
What are gorditas, sopes, tlacoyos, memelas, huaraches and pambazos? A complete guide to the most popular Mexican antojitos, their origin, ingredients and how to tell them apart.
Mexican Recipes for the Air Fryer: Quick and Crispy
The air fryer is perfect for Mexican cooking, producing crispy taquitos, churros, empanadas, elote and more with a fraction of the oil. Here are ten tested recipes that deliver authentic Mexican flavours from your air fryer in 30 minutes or less.
Mexican recipes for the Thermomix: easy adaptations
Adapt your favourite Mexican recipes to the Thermomix: salsas, guacamole, red rice, mole, aguas frescas and more. Times, speeds and tricks for authentic results.
Chapulines: From Insect to Gourmet Superfood
Chapulines, the toasted grasshoppers of Oaxaca, are one of Mexico's most ancient foods and one of the world's most sustainable protein sources. This guide explores their history, nutrition, taste and growing presence in British food culture.
The chapulín: from insect to gourmet superfood
Everything about the Mexican chapulín: history, nutritional value, how it is prepared, where to find it in Spain and why edible insects are the future of sustainable food.
How to Make Perfect Northern-Style Flour Tortillas
Soft, pillowy and slightly chewy, northern Mexican flour tortillas are a world apart from supermarket versions. This guide covers the technique, the fat choice, the flour, the rolling and the cooking to help you make perfect tortillas de harina at home in Britain.
How to make perfect northern-style flour tortillas
A step-by-step recipe to make soft, flexible flour tortillas with that buttery flavour of northern Mexico. With just 4 ingredients and the tricks that make the difference.
Guerrero Cuisine: Pozole, Chilate and Pacific Coast Flavours
The Mexican state of Guerrero is home to some of the country's most distinctive regional dishes, from the iconic pozole verde to the ancient cacao drink chilate, plus extraordinary Pacific Coast seafood. This guide explores a cuisine rarely seen outside Mexico.
Guerrero cooking: pozole, chilate and Pacific flavours
Discover the gastronomy of Guerrero, birthplace of green pozole, chilate, jumiles and a cuisine of sea and mountain that few know outside Mexico. History, recipes and traditions.
The Mexican food trucks thriving in Spain
The Mexican food-truck phenomenon in Spain: why they are winning over festivals, markets and events. Discover the business model, the menus and their cultural impact.
Mexican salsas for beginners: from mild to extreme
A guide to Mexican salsas ranked by heat level: from mild green salsa to infernal habanero salsa. Simple recipes to make each one at home.
Pan de muerto: history, recipe and where to buy it in Spain
Everything about Mexican pan de muerto: its fascinating pre-Hispanic history, the step-by-step recipe to make it at home, and where to find it in Spain during October and November.
Mexican cooking for couples: romantic recipes for two
A complete Mexican menu for a romantic dinner at home: from the cocktails to the pudding. Recipes for two with elegant presentation and surprising flavours.
Guide to Mexican products at El Corte Inglés and Carrefour
Discover which authentic Mexican products you can find at El Corte Inglés, Carrefour and other Spanish supermarkets. An updated guide with sections, brands and guide prices.
The world of mole: over 100 varieties you might not know
Mexican mole has more than 100 regional varieties. From Oaxacan black mole to Puebla's mole de caderas, discover the incredible diversity of this ancestral sauce.
Mexican chicken recipes: 10 different ways to prepare it
Chicken is the star of many classic Mexican recipes. Discover 10 different preparations, from tinga to chicken in mole, with step-by-step recipes.
The artisan tortillerías opening across Spain
Spain is experiencing a boom in artisan tortillerías producing nixtamalised corn tortillas. Discover this movement, how it works and where to find authentic tortillas.
Mexican Cheese Substitutes Using British Cheeses
Cannot find queso Oaxaca, queso fresco or cotija in Britain? This practical guide matches every major Mexican cheese to its best British substitute, from Lancashire to Wensleydale, so your Mexican cooking never suffers.
The Mexican cheeses you can substitute with Spanish cheeses
A practical guide to finding the Spanish equivalents of the most-used Mexican cheeses: Oaxaca, panela, cotija, chihuahua, requesón and more. With exact substitution recommendations.
Mexican food and fitness: high-protein recipes
Discover that Mexican food can be your fitness ally. 10 high-protein, low-fat Mexican recipes to build muscle without giving up flavour.
Mexican Salsas for Beginners: From Mild to Extreme
Master the art of Mexican salsa with our heat-ranked guide. From gentle pico de gallo to volcanic habanero salsa, learn seven essential recipes and the techniques that make each one shine.
Pan de Muerto: History, Recipe and Where to Find It in the UK
Pan de muerto is the sweet, orange-scented bread that lies at the heart of Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations. Learn its ancient symbolism, master the recipe, and discover where to find it in the UK each autumn.
Mexican Cooking for Two: Romantic Recipes for Date Night In
Forget the overpriced restaurant. Create an unforgettable Mexican dinner for two at home with ceviche appetizers, mole-glazed duck, Mexican chocolate fondant and margaritas. Elegant, impressive and surprisingly achievable.
How to make perfect agua de jamaica: tricks and variations
Learn to make perfect agua de jamaica with this complete guide: the traditional recipe, fruit variations, a concentrated version and tricks for ideal colour and flavour.
Mexican Ingredients at Marks & Spencer, Lidl and Aldi
You do not need a specialist shop to cook Mexican food. From M&S chipotle paste to Aldi's surprising tortilla range, here is your complete guide to finding Mexican ingredients at three of Britain's most popular supermarkets.
The World of Mole: Over 100 Varieties You Might Not Know
Mole is not one sauce but an entire universe. From the legendary mole negro of Oaxaca to the fruit-laden manchamanteles, discover why mole is Mexico's greatest culinary achievement and how to explore its diversity in the UK.
10 Different Ways to Cook Chicken the Mexican Way
From smoky tinga to creamy mole verde, tangy lime-marinated grills to rich adobo braises, discover ten authentic Mexican chicken recipes that will transform your weekly shop chicken into something extraordinary.
Gluten-Free Mexican Food: Naturally Wheat-Free Recipes
Mexican cuisine is one of the most naturally gluten-free in the world. From corn tortillas to tamales, from pozole to ceviche, discover dozens of authentic Mexican dishes that are wheat-free by tradition, not by adaptation.
Artisan Tortillerias Opening Across the UK
A new wave of artisan tortilla makers is transforming the UK's Mexican food scene. From nixtamalised corn tortillas in London to small-batch producers in Manchester and Bristol, discover the tortilla revolution.
The spiciest Mexican dishes and how to survive the chile
A ranking of the spiciest Mexican dishes, from aguachile to habanero chile salsa. Learn to handle the heat like a Mexican with these foolproof tips.
Gluten-free Mexican food: naturally wheat-free recipes
Discover why Mexican cooking is one of the best options for coeliacs and the gluten-sensitive. Traditional recipes that are naturally gluten-free, tips and what to avoid.
Mexican Food and Fitness: High-Protein Recipes for Active People
Forget the myth that Mexican food is unhealthy. From protein-packed chicken tinga to black bean bowls and carne asada, discover how traditional Mexican recipes align perfectly with fitness goals.
How to Make Perfect Agua de Jamaica: Tips and Variations
Master Mexico's iconic hibiscus flower drink with our complete guide. From the classic recipe to cocktail variations, iced tea twists and health benefits, discover why agua de jamaica is the ultimate refresher.
The Spiciest Mexican Dishes and How to Handle the Heat
From habanero salsas to chile de arbol-laden dishes, discover Mexico's hottest foods, understand the Scoville scale, and learn the science behind why dairy - not water - tames the burn.
Café de olla: the Mexican tradition winning over Spanish coffee shops
Discover café de olla, the traditional Mexican drink with cinnamon and piloncillo that is winning over coffee shops across Spain. History, the authentic recipe and where to try it.
Cafe de Olla: Mexico's Traditional Spiced Coffee You Can Make at Home
Discover cafe de olla, Mexico's beloved cinnamon-and-piloncillo spiced coffee. Learn the traditional clay pot method, explore regional variations, and find where to source authentic ingredients in the UK.
Taco vs Burrito vs Fajita vs Quesadilla: What's the Difference?
Confused about the difference between tacos, burritos, fajitas and quesadillas? This definitive guide explains the origins, construction, fillings and regional variations of Mexico's four most famous handheld foods, so you never mix them up again.
The difference between taco, burrito, fajita and quesadilla explained
What distinguishes a taco from a burrito? Is the fajita Mexican or Texan? Does a quesadilla always have cheese? We answer all the questions about these four iconic Mexican dishes.
How to prepare a Day of the Dead altar with traditional food
A complete guide to setting up a Day of the Dead altar with the traditional gastronomic offerings: pan de muerto, mole, tamales, sugar skulls and more. Everything you need to know to honour this tradition in Spain.
How to Build a Dia de Muertos Altar with Traditional Mexican Food
A complete guide to building an authentic Day of the Dead ofrenda in the UK, including pan de muerto, sugar skulls, mole, tamales and all the traditional foods and elements your altar needs.
Mexican Lenten Cuisine: Meat-Free Dishes for Easter
Mexico's centuries-old tradition of Lenten cooking offers an extraordinary collection of meat-free dishes - from capirotada bread pudding to romeritos, lentil soup and nopales in salsa. Perfect for Easter or any time you want flavourful plant-based Mexican food.
Mexican Lenten cooking: meat-free dishes for Holy Week
The best Mexican Lenten dishes: romeritos, shrimp fritters, cheese-stuffed chiles, nopales and more meat-free recipes for Holy Week.
Mexican Ingredients You Can Buy at Tesco and Sainsbury's
A comprehensive guide to every Mexican ingredient available at Britain's major supermarkets - what to buy, what to avoid, and how to use each item to make authentic Mexican food without visiting a specialist shop.