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Pumpkin - The Forgotten Vegetable in Mexican Cooking

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Published: 16Oct2009
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Ask most Americans what vegetables are the most common in Mexican food and most likely, it will take them a little while to answer, before finally answering either tomato or chili peppers. While these are indeed common ingredients in Mexican recipes of all kinds, Mexican cuisine is rich in vegetable dishes though most of these dishes are not terribly well known outside of the country.

It is indeed unfortunate that Mexican vegetable dishes have not yet won their rightful place as favorites on tables north of the border, but the more people learn about these recipes and the more they try cooking them for themselves, the more popularity they earn.

A popular vegetable in Mexico, which shows up in many dishes, is pumpkin. Probably not the vegetable you would expect to see on the menu and of course, you probably are not going to see any pumpkin dishes at your local Mexican restaurant. However, this is beginning to change, with well-known chefs like Rick Bayliss beginning to popularize the vegetable in a Mexican culinary context. This has led to some people interested in trying Mexican pumpkin recipes for themselves.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere

Mexican pumpkin recipes include a lot of variety, from the popular pumpkin candy dulce de Calabasas to Mexican pumpkin soups to dishes where it is braised, stewed and even mashed and used as a topping for tostadas and as a taco filling! Like other hard-shelled squashes, pumpkin is a versatile vegetable and this is a quality, which has long been recognized by Mexican cooks.

Pumpkin has been a part of traditional Mexican food for many centuries; these vegetables are thought to originate in North America, with Mexico, being where they are known to have been cultivated the longest. In fact, pumpkin seeds have been found in Mexico, which may be nearly 9,000 years old!

As you would expect from this fact, Mexican cooks have had a lot of time to become familiar with the pumpkin and to develop a lot of different Mexican pumpkin recipes. This vegetable is used in nearly every way imaginable in Mexican cuisine, playing both starring and supporting roles in a great many dishes.

Every Part of the Pumpkin - Almost

You may find pumpkin braised with tomatillos and chilies, blended into a spicy soup with beans and herbs or in any number of other ways. Even pumpkin seeds are a common ingredient in traditional Mexican recipes. Roasted pumpkin seeds are used in many different recipes as well as being eaten on their own as a snack.

One of the best-known uses for pumpkin seeds in Mexican cooking is in some types of mole sauce. Not every mole features these seeds, but the famed mole verde of central Mexico relies on this ingredient for its nutty flavor and satisfying mouth feel.

Traditional Mexican food includes a lot of ingredients, which may not immediately come to mind for the average American. However, once you sample some of the amazing vegetable dishes, which the country has to offer, you may find yourself with a whole new list of favorite Mexican recipes.

As the mom of four boys great food is a way of life and lots of it. So, what do you get if you combine the freshest produce with the best fish, meat or poultry and a clever combination of herbs and spices? Answer: Mexican food and if you have never tasted authentic Mexican recipes you have not lived! Traditional Mexican food is both healthy and easy to make, even for beginners! For more info and recipes visit: http://www.MexicanFoodRecipes.org

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