Cinco de Mayo is not just a celebration of the victory that the Mexican people of the Puebla had over the French army; it is also a great occasion to gather all your family and enjoy traditional food at ‘fiestas’. Here are some menu ideas for those of you who want to get a taste of spicy Mexican dishes.
There are numerous Mexican dishes that one can prepare for Cinco de Mayo, but if you want to play a winning game we suggest you to surprise your guests with Enchiladas. This tasty recipe is very easy to make and, most importantly, it is very representative for the Mexican cuisine.
The ingredients you will need are:
• 3 pounds/1.5 kg ground beef
• 2 tablespoons pressed garlic
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 48 ounces/1.5 L mild or picante salsa (for beef)
• 1-1/2 pounds or 700g cream cheese cut into chunks
• 3 red or green peppers, finely chopped
• 36 (6-inch) tortillas
• 48 ounces/1.5 L mild or picante salsa (for topping)
• 4-1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
Brown ground beef in a stock pan over medium heat and mix it with garlic, cumin, chili powder and salsa. When the mixture is well-heated add the chunks of cream cheese and the three peppers. After several minutes take the pan away from heat and set it aside.
Take one tortilla and fill it with ½ cup of the previously prepared beef mixture and roll it. Repeat the same process with all the tortillas and place them in a container. Spread the remaining salsa over enchiladas and put it in the pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of baking scatter the shredded cheddar or the Monterey Jack cheese over enchiladas and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Cinco de Mayo would not be the same without the traditional tequila cocktail commonly known as Margarita. This beverage is usually made by mixing tequila with orange or lime juice and serving it with salt on the glass rim and lots of ice. For those of you who find Mexican food a little bit too spicy, you can cool your stomachs down with a glass of Horchata, a popular Mexican refreshment. This drink is made by mixing 5 cups of water with 1 cup of white rice in the blender. The rice grains are sifted and the remaining liquid is mixed with 2 cups of milk, some vanilla and cinnamon or almond flavoring and 100-150g of sugar, depending on your preferences. Horchata is usually served cold and with ice.
