| Everyone knows that Mexican food is different and | | | | unavailable in the Americas. |
| that Mexican food recipes are definitely not the same | | | | The Spanish are not the only immigrants to Mexico |
| as American recipes. Unlike Canada, which has a | | | | who have contributed to Mexican food, of course. |
| culinary tradition which is quite similar to our own, | | | | Another popular Mexican recipe al pastor was brought |
| America's neighbor to the south has a radically | | | | to the Mexico with immigrants from Lebanon and Syria |
| different way of cooking, with many recipes and | | | | and is an adaptation of the Middle Eastern dish |
| ingredients which are unfamiliar to the American palate | | | | shawarma. However, unquestionably the Spanish have |
| - but what is it that has caused such a divergence in | | | | had the strongest influence over Mexican food recipes. |
| the cuisines of the two neighboring nations? | | | | Since the US has a much more diverse population, no |
| A Look at Mexican Food History | | | | single nationality's cuisine ever assumed quite the |
| There is a historical reason for the difference, which is | | | | dominance over American cooking as can be seen in |
| in large part responsible for this difference. As most | | | | Mexico with Spanish influence. The development of |
| everyone knows, Mexico was formerly a Spanish | | | | Mexican food is largely the product of two cuisines |
| colony until winning his or her independence. However, | | | | rather than many melding together over time. |
| as you probably also know, parts of the United States | | | | The Importance of Local Ingredients in Mexican |
| were also once Spanish territories! As it happens | | | | Cooking |
| though, these regions (largely in the southwest) do | | | | The other important factor in the difference between |
| bear a distinct influence from the Spanish colonial | | | | the cuisines of Mexico and the US is in the ingredients |
| period, though not to the extent seen in Mexico since | | | | used. Just like in this country, Mexican cooks and |
| they have long been part of the US. | | | | Spanish colonists alike have always worked with the |
| By contrast, what is now the United States was | | | | ingredients, which were widely available. In Mexico, of |
| largely colonized by immigrants from Northern Europe, | | | | course that meant avocado, chili peppers, corn, |
| especially the English, Dutch and Germans, with French | | | | pumpkins, pineapple, and other produce typical of the |
| settlers in some areas and later on, immigrants from | | | | country's warmer climate. |
| eastern Europe and Scandinavia - and to a lesser | | | | It is this adaptation of European recipes to the |
| extent, literally every other part of the globe. | | | | ingredients of the new world and the incorporation of |
| Colonists who came to Mexico from Europe came | | | | Spanish ingredients and techniques into the indigenous |
| mostly from Spain and had a deep and lasting | | | | cuisine that has made Mexican food such a unique |
| influence on what is now the nation of Mexico. Many | | | | cuisine today. From Mexican food recipes like pozole |
| classic Mexican recipes are either Spanish and are | | | | to Mexican casserole recipes, tostadas to pumpkin |
| made much the same way as they are in Europe or | | | | recipes, Mexican food is one of the world's greatest |
| are adaptations of Spanish dishes using local | | | | fusion cuisines that no one thinks of as a fusion cuisine. |
| ingredients as substitutes for those, which were | | | | |