Mexican Food Essay

If there is one thing that consistently describes Mexican food, it is spicy. Aside from the “spiciness” seen throughout Mexican culture, such as the “reporters” seen on some Mexican news telecasts, Mexican food can be described as hot, or spicy, and chiles are a big reason for this. While chiles are indigenous to the Americas, nowhere else is its use more sophisticated than in Mexico. Most places use chiles simply for the heat factor it provides, but chiles in Mexican food is used also for the flavor and texture. This is why there are various types of chiles used for different dishes, with each of the different type of chile serving a different culinary purpose. There are different flavors of chile, which ranges from the sweetness provided …show more content…
This statement may surprise those whose primary knowledge about Mexican food is tacos and burritos. Mole is Mexico’s national dish. It is served at important celebrations like weddings and baptisms. Red mole has more significance than a national dish; however. Even the very Nahuatl word “mole,” which means sauce, shows a connection to Mexicans roots from the past, dating back to the Aztecs. This dish is the perfect example of how food identifies Mexican culture, as it not only uses many ingredients that is Mexican, but its inclusion and significance in a significant Mexican ritual shows how even though red mole is simply a food to some, to Mexicans, red mole stands for what it means to be Mexican. The complex mixture of ingredients in mole allows one to experience taste with all their taste buds simultaneously. Eating good mole is a very satisfying experience. As shown in the recipe on the right, many different sorts of ingredients go into the thick, paste-like mole sauce. Among these key ingredients are a variety of chiles of different shapes, colors and sizes. Chiles are, as we saw above, the quintessential ingredient in Mexican