The Authentic Mexican Enchilada
"Cena" is the last meal of the day, translated "dinner". It is eaten late in the evening, somewhere between 8-9:30 PM. The food you see cooking here is being fried-up all over town in numerous outdoor eateries. This is what most people do for a living - cook from their home. And, like in America, many people eat their meals out. This has surprised me. The difference is price though; our whole family eats out very cheap.
Our family was taken to this restaurant last night. My kids used to by shy about ordering but last night we must have had a break through! They have eaten out enough now to know what they will be getting. The welding teacher and his wife have taken a new interest in our family and have taken us out to eat four times this week! He hoovered over the kids, Mike and I, standing ready to order us our next entree. The people have been so kind to us. Every time we have eaten out, our friends insist on picking up the tab. This is hard for us, knowing that their income is significantly lower than our own. We all go home completely stuffed.
This "stove" is classic for what is used to prepare Cena. This one is powered with gas but I have seen several that are made out of stone with a fire built beneath.
There is pollo (fried Chicken in back row starting on the other side of the red spatula), then papas (fried potatoes), taco rolls, guesidallas, enchilada fried tortillas, and then more of the taco rolls. Not far away is a table lined with containers that have all the ingredients that will finish off the meal. Shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, pickled onions and peppers, chili sauces of all flavors, chicken feet, and jalapenos.
Enchiladas are the community favorite. I guess after eating tacos for breakfast, then again for the 10:30 meal, and a third time for the 3:00 meal, when it is time for Cena, enchiladas are a welcomed treat. When planning to eat Cena with Mexican friends, their faces light up while they declare they will be taking us somewhere that serves enchiladas. They are proud of this Mexican speciality and want the Americans to delight in them as well.
In Mexico the enchilada is not anything like what is made and served in America. The first few times I had one, the entire family decided that we didn't like them. But, after being "treated" several more times by our friends, the flavor has grown on me. I now look forward to the next time I will get to experience the authentic enchilada.
The enchiladas are made like this. They are served like a taco with a layering of ingredients:
1. a tortilla deep fried in oil after first being dipped in a home-made enchilada red sauce
several are slapped on the plate with ingredients piled on top
2. shredded fresh cabbage
3. a fresh pickled salsa made of carrots, onions and peppers
4. fresh diced, cooked potatoes
5. jalapenos
6. a sprinkling of cheese (very different than US cheese)
7. A piece of chicken served on the side for you to shred and include in your tortilla
Our family was taken to this restaurant last night. My kids used to by shy about ordering but last night we must have had a break through! They have eaten out enough now to know what they will be getting. The welding teacher and his wife have taken a new interest in our family and have taken us out to eat four times this week! He hoovered over the kids, Mike and I, standing ready to order us our next entree. The people have been so kind to us. Every time we have eaten out, our friends insist on picking up the tab. This is hard for us, knowing that their income is significantly lower than our own. We all go home completely stuffed.
This "stove" is classic for what is used to prepare Cena. This one is powered with gas but I have seen several that are made out of stone with a fire built beneath.
There is pollo (fried Chicken in back row starting on the other side of the red spatula), then papas (fried potatoes), taco rolls, guesidallas, enchilada fried tortillas, and then more of the taco rolls. Not far away is a table lined with containers that have all the ingredients that will finish off the meal. Shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, pickled onions and peppers, chili sauces of all flavors, chicken feet, and jalapenos.
Enchiladas are the community favorite. I guess after eating tacos for breakfast, then again for the 10:30 meal, and a third time for the 3:00 meal, when it is time for Cena, enchiladas are a welcomed treat. When planning to eat Cena with Mexican friends, their faces light up while they declare they will be taking us somewhere that serves enchiladas. They are proud of this Mexican speciality and want the Americans to delight in them as well.
In Mexico the enchilada is not anything like what is made and served in America. The first few times I had one, the entire family decided that we didn't like them. But, after being "treated" several more times by our friends, the flavor has grown on me. I now look forward to the next time I will get to experience the authentic enchilada.
The enchiladas are made like this. They are served like a taco with a layering of ingredients:
1. a tortilla deep fried in oil after first being dipped in a home-made enchilada red sauce
several are slapped on the plate with ingredients piled on top
2. shredded fresh cabbage
3. a fresh pickled salsa made of carrots, onions and peppers
4. fresh diced, cooked potatoes
5. jalapenos
6. a sprinkling of cheese (very different than US cheese)
7. A piece of chicken served on the side for you to shred and include in your tortilla
1 comment:
That is just so crazy!!! I cannot believe the way they cook... it looks so good and scary at the same time :-) I'll stick with El Primo here in Mac for now!
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