Cuisine

Mexican

Mexican cooking grounded in nixtamal, dried chillies and slow-built salsas. Toast, soak, blend, season — the order is the whole job.

Mexican cooking grounded in nixtamal, dried chillies and slow-built salsas. Toast, soak, blend, season — the order is the whole job.

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Questions from the pass

Mexican: frequently asked

How do you nixtamalise corn for corn tortillas?

To nixtamalise, simmer dried flint corn in water with 1% culinary lime (calcium hydroxide) by corn weight. Cook for 30–45 minutes until the skins loosen, then steep off the heat for 12 to 18 hours. Wash thoroughly to remove the gelatinised pericarp, then grind in a volcanic stone mill to form masa.

Should dried chillies be toasted before making salsa?

Yes. Toasting dry chillies like ancho, guajillo, or pasilla on a dry comal or cast-iron pan at medium heat for 30–60 seconds per side releases essential oils. Do not let them burn, or they turn bitter. Soak in boiled water for 20 minutes to rehydrate before blending into sauces.

Why is my red chilli salsa bitter?

Bitterness usually stems from burnt chillies or raw garlic. To build a balanced salsa roja, toast dried chillies lightly, soak in hot water, and blend with charred tomatoes and onions. Always season with sea salt and a splash of lime juice or cider vinegar at the end to balance the natural heat and earthiness.

How do you thicken a traditional Mexican mole?

Traditional mole, like mole poblano, is thickened using fried bolillo roll pieces, toasted corn tortillas, or pumpkin seeds (pepitas) ground into the paste. Avoid cornflour slurry. The starch must be fried and blended with the stock and chilli paste, then simmered for at least an hour to achieve the correct velvet texture.

Do tomatillos need to be cooked for salsa verde?

Tomatillos can be used raw for a sharp, vibrant salsa verde cruda, or charred under a grill for 8–10 minutes to develop sweetness and reduce acidity. For a balanced cooked salsa, boil them for 5 minutes with serrano chillies until they turn olive green, then blend with coriander, white onion, and salt.

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