Tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and churros: Mexican recipes for Cinco de Mayo
Find out why this annual festival is marked
Today, May 5, is Cinco de Mayo, a major Mexican holiday that celebrates its army’s victory at the battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war in 1862.
And sure enough, we’ve got four Mexican recipes for you to cook up today from chefs in Dubai reminiscing about home and celebrating the occasion with authentic food.
Cinco de Mayo literally translates to May the fifth and has evolved into a large celebration in the US, in honour of Mexican culture, especially in areas that Mexican-Americans populate.
Kristian Gutierrez is a Mexican chef and the Culinary Brand Director of Meshico Group based in Dubai, who makes sure to celebrate with recreating traditional recipes. Sharing what a typical table looks like on Cinco de Mayo at a Mexican household, he said: “We traditionally celebrate it by having Mexican appetisers, such as tacos, chalupas, gorditas and more elaborate dishes such as enchiladas, pozole or the traditional mole [sauce].”
We traditionally celebrate it by having Mexican appetisers, such as tacos, chalupas, gorditas and more elaborate dishes such as enchiladas, pozole or the traditional mole [sauce]
Talking about his favourite foods to eat and make on the occasion, he said: “Personally, the tacos and the mole are the ones I like the most, tacos must be made with a handmade tortilla of just the right size for two or three bites, the meat candied in its own fat giving a soft texture on the inside and crispy on the outside.”
“The hearty tortilla, spicy protein mixed with the freshness of the finely chopped onions and cilantro, the acidity of the fresh lemon and the spiciness of the sauce made in a traditional molcajete (mortar and pestle) give tacos their character, flavour and presence that make it an iconic dish,” he said.
“On the other hand, we have the mole poblano, an emblematic, traditional and pre-Hispanic preparation that in its most original form can contain more than 30 ingredients ranging from seeds, chili peppers, chocolate, spices, and there are more than 40 types of mole such as poblano, black, pink, yellow, chichilo, pipian and more. Traditional preparation, deep flavours, slow cooking, several aromatic layers and a soft and smooth texture make it something that cannot be missed.” He added.
Currently, Gutierrez has been in the UAE for 8 months and this year, he is celebrating it in Dubai with friends and family.
“In Mexico, it is common to gather friends and family for a large meal, music and a party. Here in Dubai, far from home, we are going to commemorate it by making a variety of tacos, traditional sauces, some spicy and others milder, I will serve poblano and pink mole, and we will finish with churros and their caramel sauce.”
Edgar Jimenez, founder and owner of Dubai restaurant Chalco's Mexican Grill, said food is definitely one of the biggest parts of the Cinco de Mayo celebration, as per an interview published on May 5, 2021 in Gulf News Food section. Growing up in Los Angeles, Cinco de Mayo was a big day for him, a celebration of Mexican heritage, history, and importantly for him – cuisine. “The biggest ingredient for Cinco de Mayo is avocado – there’s plenty guacamole everywhere. It’s one of the days we consume the most avocado in the US, and from house parties to bars or restaurants, there’s guac involved.
“Then there’s the enchiladas, tacos to burritos and fajitas and tostadas, your traditional dishes. Usually we’ll hold a fiesta in our home or in friends’ houses – a potluck where everyone brings their own dishes, whether it’s rice, beans enchiladas, queso, ground beef or tacos.”
Usually we’ll hold a fiesta in our home or in friends’ houses – a potluck where everyone brings their own dishes, whether it’s rice, beans enchiladas, queso, ground beef or tacos.
Lucia Martinez, chef at El Mostacho, said that quesadillas and churros represent the Cinco de Mayo celebration for her. “Cinco de Mayo essentially means party time for us Mexicans in the UAE, and it’s a great excuse for Mexicans to get together and eat. Because quesadillas and churros are dishes meant for sharing, we cook up a lot of them.” She, too, spoke with Gulf News in a story about Cinco de Mayo, which was published on May 5, 2021.
Cinco de Mayo essentially means party time for us Mexicans in the UAE, and it’s a great excuse for Mexicans to get together and eat.
So gather the whole family, get the kids involved, and embrace the mess of cooking. For starters, we’ve got the obvious choice, so of course, tacos – what celebration is complete without this traditional tortilla and juicy filling? Chalcos uses carne asada - tender, marinated-overnight flank steak. All complemented with zesty flavours of the tomatillo salsa and fresh onions - you can’t go wrong with these street-style tacos.
Then we’ve got the humble enchilada – beans, meat and cheese, what’s not to like? This dish is a bit more elaborate than tacos, but the extra effort is worth it when corn tortillas mingle with a spicy enchilada sauce. Give this dish with a meaty centre, saucy toppings and oozy garnish a try. Want to make this a vegetarian recipe? Just substitute the chicken for cheese.
It’s not a Mexican fiesta if there’s no quesadillas present – El Mistacho’s recipe uses slow-cooked chicken cooked in a chipotle tomato sauce – and of course plenty of mozzarella cheese.
The sweetest finish can be with nothing but churros – find out how to make the churro dough and fry it to perfection. Bon appetit!