| Mexican cuisine combines traditional indigenous | | | | - Gauacamole - A dip/relish created using avocado, |
| ingredients as well as ingredients imported from | | | | the recipe for which dates back to pre-Columbian |
| Europe: | | | | times. As well as avocado, ingredients usually include |
| - Corn, beans and chillies are the most well-known | | | | tomatoes and salt, and sometimes lime juice, onions, |
| Mexican ingredients, and all have been part of the | | | | and spices. |
| Mexican diet for thousands of years. | | | | - Burrito (also known as "taco de harina") - A tortilla |
| - Mexico was ruled by Spain for three hundred years - | | | | filled with meat, such as beef, pork or chicken. |
| so the cuisine also features many Spanish influences, | | | | Traditionally, meat is the only filling and the tortilla is |
| which include the introduction of sugar, cheese and | | | | rolled thin, however in the United States, it has become |
| livestock to the Mexican diet. | | | | the norm to add other ingredients such as rice, beans, |
| Additionally, fruits and vegetables also form an import | | | | tomatoes, salsa, guacamole, cheese or sour cream. |
| part of the Mexican diet - these include tomatoes, | | | | - Enchilada - A maize (corn) tortilla dipped in oil or lard |
| squash, sweet potatoes, coconut, pineapple, papya, | | | | and then enchilada sauce. The tortilla is then filled, rolled, |
| avocado and prickly pear cactus. | | | | placed in a casserole dish and layered with sauce or |
| Some popular and well-known Mexican dishes include: | | | | other ingredients, and finally baked. |
| - Tortilla - A flat unleavened bread made from ground | | | | - Chili con carne - A spicy stew (usually beef or pork) |
| maize (corn) or wheat flour. | | | | with chili peppers. |