I grew up in Southern California, so Mexican food is like comfort food to me. Burritos are a staple in my life. Enchiladas are an endless canvas for inspiration, and my chicken enchiladas are a dish I am perhaps overly proud of. I survived on large pots of beans during my poor college years. And this weekend, well. Cinco de Mayo might not be a particularly important holiday in Mexico, but in California, Cinco de Mayo means its time for Mexican food. And, if you’re lucky, a Mariachi band.
If you’re looking for something fun to make tomorrow to celebrate the awesomeness of Mexican food (that’s what that holiday is about, right?), here’s a round up of my favorite Mexican food recipes.
Starting with enchiladas:
These Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas are a great riff on a classic.
Squash and Pepper Enchiladas, with chayote squash, aka zucchini tush. Also a great take on enchiladas, if you’re looking for something a little different.
But if you’re looking for super classic Chicken Enchiladas, this recipe is just what you want.
There must be beans! These Frijoles de la Olla are on my all-time favorite list. I’ve been making them like this for over 10 years. Make yourself a big pot of beans this weekend. Then turn them into refried beans. (When I was a little kid my parents nicknamed me the Refried Bean Queen. That is all.)
Chicken Mole is intimidating. But you can totally do it! It’s worth it.
A recipe for Chicken en escabeche turned into these spicy, juicy chicken and chard burritos.
And if you’re looking for something TOTALLY different, you should absolutely try Mexican Pizza. This might be one of my most brilliant dinner ideas ever.
And as a happy bonus, here are some of the recipes from other awesome bloggers that have caught my eye:
Chiles en nogada from Homesick Texan
Tlacoyo Masa pockets from Serious Eats
Yucatan-style Slow Roasted Pork Tacos from The Amateur Gourmet
Stuffed Poblanos from Shutterbean
Are you planning to cook something special for Cinco de Mayo? What’s your favorite Mexican dish? Share in the comments!