Pork Chops with Chile Peanut Rice
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Peanuts with chile and lime are a classic bar snack that can be found in a number of regions across Mexico. Inspired by these flavors, we set out to create a simple one-pan weeknight meal using pork chops and rice as the backbone of the dish. To keep the pork chops […]
Indoor Steak Fajitas
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Although the grill is great for achieving a crisp, nicely charred crust on steak for fajitas, we wanted a recipe that we could make indoors that would produce the same deeply flavorful results. Flank steak worked well, with its beefy flavor and tender texture when sliced, and pan-searing gave the steak […]
Braised Short Ribs with Peppers and Onions
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Bistec ranchero is a traditional dish of beef braised in an aromatic mixture of peppers, onions, tomatoes, and spices. Hailing from the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora, the minimalist preparation is indicative of the local cuisine, which is straightforward and uncomplicated. Though there are very few ingredients, the flavor is vibrant […]
Oaxacan Style Beef Brisket
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: We wanted a recipe for tender, juicy beef brisket full of bold Mexican flavor. To ensure that our brisket turned out tender, we cooked it fat side up so it would self-baste as it cooked, and we covered it with foil to hold in moisture. We infused our aromatic cooking liquid […]
Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Albondigas en chipotle is a classic Mexican dish that features a smoky, spicy, chipotle chile–infused tomato sauce and tender meatballs. Usually the meatballs also contain rice. Our goal was to create a recipe with big flavors and perfectly cooked rice and meatballs. We borrowed a method from our recipe for Meatball […]
Beef Taco Salad
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Golden and ultra crunchy, tortilla “bowls” make a perfect contrast to a saucy, spicy beef filling and crisp salad fixings. We microwaved flour tortillas to make them pliable and coated them with vegetable oil spray to ensure they crisped up in the oven. We found dressing unnecessary; the saucy meat and […]
Mexican Style Picadillo
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: The Spanish word picadillo comes from the word picar, “to mince”; in Mexico, the dish consists of finely chopped beef stewed with a combination of minced peppers, tomatoes, and sometimes vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. It’s Mexican comfort food at its best. Authentic recipes call for finely chopping the beef […]
Tamale Pie
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Tamale pie—lightly seasoned, tomatoey ground beef with cornbread topping—borrows the flavor of traditional Mexican tamales for an easy-to-make pie. But in many recipes, the filling either tastes bland and one-dimensional or turns heavy. As for the cornbread topping, it’s usually from a mix—and tastes like it. We wanted a tamale pie […]
Chiles Rellenos Casserole
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Traditional chiles rellenos are a long-standing Mexican favorite, but preparing them can be time-consuming and fussy. But the mild heat of the chiles, the beefy, cheesy filling, the crisp, light coating, and the spicy tomato sauce make this dish irresistible. We wanted all the multidimensional flavor and texture of traditional chiles […]
Chicken Chilaquiles
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Chilaquiles is a Mexican comfort food dish made from fried tortilla wedges that are tossed in a deeply flavored red or green chile sauce. The crisp chips soften slightly in the sauce, giving the dish a unique crunchy-chewy texture. The finished dish is topped with a variety of fresh garnishes along […]