Central (State of Mexico, Puebla, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Mexico City)

Memelas, also known as memelitas, are fried or toasted cakes made of masa topped with different fresh ingredients eaten as antojitos or snacks in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Tlaxcala, and Puebla, Mexico, which has its origins in prehispanic food. They are similar to fresh corn tortillas, but are slightly thicker and usually oblong/oval in shape. Memela is the local name for the almost identical sope and huarache served in other parts of Mexico, but with different toppings. The corn masa is flattened with a tortilla press, pinched to create indentations along its borders, then placed over a hot comal or griddle. When the tortilla-like base is cooked and charred where the dough hits the hot metal of the grill and becomes as chewy as a medium-well steak, it is then topped with black beans, salsa, shredded cabbage, mole negro, guacamole, and cheese. Although the traditional memela is supposed to be topped with no other additional ingredients, those toppings now vary from recipe to recipe. Modern incarnations include other vegetables and the option of a layer of tinga or potatoes and sausage.

Seafood cocktail, made with clams, oysters, red snapper, shrimp, squid in a spicy sauce

Alfeñique, or Alfenim in Brazil, is a type of confection or sweet originating in Spain molded into a long or twisted shape made of cane sugar together with other ingredients. This sweet has been used in Hispanic America in folkloric events since colonial times. The alfeñique was a typical sweet of Islamic Spain, known as "Al-Fanid", which was warm and wet and used to treat coughs. In the Kingdom of Granada, it was made of sugar, water, honey and almond oil, stretched to create a viscous paste. Alfeñique figures, especially calaveras , are widely created in Mexico for the Day of the Dead celebrations in November. Today, the main production center for alfeñique figures are Toluca, San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato. Today, the paste is used to form hundreds of types of shapes which include rabbits, lions, ducks, doves, cows, bulls, donkeys, pigs, frogs, horses, deer, angels, skulls and coffins. The art form has taken on more elaborate sculptures that involve more sophisticated and modern techniques that there are now encyclopedic volumes on how to create them for all different occasions, apart from Day of the Dead celebrations. There are regional fairs and events that celebrate this art form, including ones in Toluca, Mexico State and in Leon, Guanajuato.

Flat, pancake-shaped fritters, common during Christmas

Goiabada is a conserve made of red guavas and sugar, commonly found throughout the Portuguese-speaking countries of the world. It dates back to the colonial times of Brazil, where guavas were used as a substitute for the quinces used to make quince cheese. It required an abundance of sugar and slave labor for its production as it was made in large batches within cauldrons cooking over a slow fire. In rural areas of Brazil, it is still commonly made at home for family use or sale. Very similar to goiabada is the closely related Colombian bocadillo, also made from guava but with more sugar. It is known as guava paste or guava cheese throughout the English-speaking Americas, especially the Caribbean, and dulce de guayaba, barra de guayaba, pasta de guayaba, bocadillo or guayabate in Spanish-speaking Americas. It is commercially available, most often packaged in flat metal cans, or as long rectangular blocks in chipboard boxes.

Deep-fried flatbread

Pan de muerto is a type of pan dulce traditionally baked in Mexico and the Mexican diaspora during the weeks leading up to the Día de Muertos, which is celebrated from November 1 to November 2. It is a sweetened soft bread shaped like a bun, often decorated with bone-shaped phalanx pieces. Some traditions state that the rounded or domed top of the bread represents a grave. Bread of the dead usually has skulls or crossbones added in extra dough. The bones represent the deceased one (difuntos or difuntas), or perhaps bones coming out of a grave, there is normally a baked tear drop on the bread to represent goddess Chīmalmā's tears for the living. The bones are often represented in a circle to portray the circle of life. The bread is topped with sugar, sometimes white and sometimes dyed pink. This bread can be found in Mexican grocery stores in the U.S. The classic recipe for pan de muerto is a simple sweet bread recipe, often with the addition of anise seeds, and other times flavored with orange flower water or orange zest. The bread often contains some fat, such as butter. Its texture has been described as similar to that of challah, brioche, or falling between a concha and a hamburger bun.

A tres leches cake , dulce de tres leches, also known as pan tres leches (lit. 'three-milk bread') or simply tres leches, is a sponge cake originating in North, Central and South America soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and whole milk. Tres leches is a very light cake, with many air bubbles. This distinct texture is why it does not have a soggy consistency, despite being soaked in a mixture of three types of milk. By 1896, the U.S. Department of Commerce was exporting condensed milk to Nicaragua. Cattle, sugarcane plantations, and milk preservation techniques were introduced to Nicaragua by that time, by way of American military occupation.

Opuntia, commonly called the prickly pear cactus, is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, many known for their flavorful fruit and showy flowers. Cacti are well-adapted to aridity; however, they are still vulnerable to alterations in precipitation and temperature driven by climate change. Prickly pear alone is more commonly used to refer exclusively to the fruit, but may also be used for the plant itself; in addition, other names given to the plant and its specific parts include tuna , sabra, sabbar, nopal (pads, plural nopales) from the Nahuatl word nōpalli, nostle (fruit) from the Nahuatl word nōchtli, and paddle cactus. The genus is named for the Ancient Greek city of Opus, where, according to Theophrastus, an edible plant grew and could be propagated by rooting its leaves.[failed verification] The most common culinary species is the "Barbary fig" (Opuntia ficus-indica). O. ficus-indica is a large, trunk-forming, segmented cactus that may grow to 5–7 metres (16–23 feet) with a crown of over 3 m (10 ft) in diameter and a trunk diameter of 1 m (1 yard). Cladodes (large pads) are green to blue-green, bearing few spines up to 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) or may be spineless. Prickly pears typically grow with flat, rounded cladodes (also called platyclades) containing large, smooth, fixed spines and small, hairlike prickles called glochids that readily adhere to skin or hair, then detach from the plant. The flowers are typically large, axillary, solitary, bisexual, and epiperigynous, with a perianth consisting of distinct, spirally arranged tepals and a hypanthium. The stamens are numerous and in spiral or whorled clusters, and the gynoecium has numerous inferior ovaries per carpel. Placentation is parietal, and the fruit is a berry with arillate seeds. Prickly pear species can vary greatly in habit; most are shrubs, but some, such as O. galapageia of the Galápagos, are trees.

Pineapple punch, common during Christmas

Pulque , occasionally known as octli or agave wine, is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey (agave) plant. It is traditional in central Mexico, where it has been produced for millennia. It has the color of milk, a rather viscous consistency and a sour yeast-like taste. The drink's history extends far back into the Mesoamerican period, when it was considered sacred, and its use was limited to certain classes of people. After the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, the drink became secular and its consumption rose. The consumption of pulque reached its peak in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, the drink fell into decline, mostly because of competition from beer, which became more prevalent with the arrival of European immigrants, but pulque remains popular in many parts of Central Mexico, however, and there have been some efforts to revive the drink's popularity elsewhere through tourism. Similar drinks exist elsewhere in Latin America, such as guarango in Ecuador (see miske).

Alambre is a Mexican dish consisting of a choice of meat—popular choices include grilled beef, al pastor, chicken, and shrimp—topped with chopped bacon, bell peppers, onions, cheese, salsa, and in some variations, avocado. Similar to fajitas, it is usually served with freshly made corn or flour tortillas. The most common ingredient is beef, and other kinds of meat such as chicken or pork are also used. Some recipes substitute bacon by chopped ham or chorizo. Alambres are popular in many parts of Mexico and among Mexican-American populations across the United States.[citation needed] The word alambre literally means "wire" in Spanish. It is commonly believed that the name refers to the act of skewering the ingredients while cooking, although this is not always done.

Rice with shrimp

Barbacoa or Asado en Barbacoa in Mexico, refers to the local indigenous variation of the method of cooking in a pit or earth oven. It generally refers to slow-cooking meats or whole sheep, whole cows, whole beef heads, or whole goats in a hole dug in the ground, and covered with agave (maguey) leaves, although the interpretation is loose, and in the present day (and in some cases) may refer to meat steamed until tender. This meat is known for its high fat content and strong flavor, often accompanied with onions and cilantro (coriander leaf). Because this method of cooking was used throughout different regions by different ethnic groups or tribes in Mexico, each had their own name for it; for the Nahuatl it was called nakakoyonki; for the Mayan it was called píib; for the Otomi it was called thumngö. Similar methods exist throughout Latin America and the rest of the world, under distinct names, including: pachamanca and huatia in the Andean region; curanto in Chile and southern Argentina; berarubu in Brazil; cocido enterrado in Colombia; or hāngī in New Zealand.

Corn masa cake, served plain, filled with cheese, beans, chili peppers, meat

Thin pork or beef cutlets marinated in adobo, then pan-fried, serve with tortillas, use in tacos

The cemita is a sandwich originally from Puebla, Mexico. Also known as cemita poblana, it derives from the city of Puebla. The word refers to the sandwich as well as to the roll it is typically served on, a bread roll covered with sesame seeds. Additionally, the ingredients usually are restricted to sliced avocado, meat, Oaxaca cheese, onions, the herb pápalo and chipotle adobado, or jalapeño. The Real Academia Española says cemita comes from "acemite" (archaic Spanish for "bran") which in turn comes from Aramaic, and is related to Greek σεμίδαλις (semídalis) ("semolina"). The Daily Meal reviewed the cemita, saying "there are numerous variations, but it's always a delicious mouthful" in their article "12 Life-Changing Sandwiches You've Never Heard Of".

A chalupa is one of several specialty dishes of south-central Mexico, including the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. Chalupas are made by pressing a thin layer of masa dough around the outside of a small mold, in the process creating a concave container resembling the boat of the same name, and then deep frying the result to produce crisp, shallow corn cups. These are filled with various ingredients such as shredded chicken, pork, chopped onion, chipotle pepper, red salsa, and/or green salsa. They can in many cases resemble tostadas since both are made of a fried or baked masa-based dough. Traditional chalupas, as found in Cholula, Puebla, are small, thick, boat-shaped fried masa topped only with salsa, cheese and shredded lettuce. Other regions in Mexico add variations, which can include chorizo, pork, shredded chicken, or refried beans, in addition to the classic cheese, salsa, and lettuce toppings. In other instances, the fried masa shape is round, resembling a tostada, with traditional chalupa toppings.

Chileatole is a Mexican thick soup made of corn masa or corn kernels, which is cooked with corn chunks, epazote, salt, and a sauce made of chili peppers and pumpkin leaves. It is served hot.

Chiles en nogada is a Mexican dish of poblano chiles stuffed with picadillo topped with a walnut-based cream sauce called nogada, pomegranate seeds and parsley; it is typically served at room temperature. It is widely considered a national dish of Mexico. The picadillo usually contains panochera apple (manzana panochera), sweet-milk pear (pera de leche) and criollo peach (durazno criollo). The cream sauce usually has milk, double cream, fresh cheese, sherry and walnut. The walnuts, which give the nogada sauce its name (nogal being Spanish for "walnut tree") are traditionally of the cultivar nogal de Castilla (Castilian walnut). In some cases, pecans may substitute for or supplement the walnuts. This dish is made in Central Mexico in August and the first half of September, when pomegranates are in season. The colors of the dish—green chile, white sauce, red pomegranate—are the colors of the flag of Mexico, and Independence Day is during the pomegranate season.

An enchilada is a Mexican dish consisting of a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a savory sauce. Enchiladas can be filled with various ingredients, including meats, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables, or combinations. Enchilada sauces include chili-based sauces, such as salsa roja, various moles, tomatillo-based sauces, such as salsa verde, or cheese-based sauces, such as chile con queso. The Royal Spanish Academy defines the word enchilada, as used in Mexico, as a rolled maize tortilla stuffed with meat and covered with a tomato and chili sauce. Enchilada is the past participle of the Mexican Spanish enchilar, "to add chili pepper to"; literally, "to season (or decorate) with chili".

Huarache is a popular Mexican dish consisting of masa dough with smashed pinto beans placed in the center before it is given an oblong shape, fried, topped with green or red salsa, onions, potato, cilantro and any manner of protein such as ground beef or tongue, then finished with queso fresco. Huaraches are also often paired with fried cactus leaves, or nopales. The dish originates from Mexico City. The name "Huarache" is derived from the shape of the masa, similar to the popular sandals of the same name. The word Huarache is originally from Purépecha and the Nahuatl word for huarache is kwarachi. Huaraches are similar to sopes and tlacoyos but differ in shape. The original huarache does not resemble a pambazo or a memela. Neither can it be classified as a tlacoyo. The main characteristic of the huarache is its elongated shape, which differentiates it from other Mexican snacks, which do not have holes in the upper part. Huaraches originated in Mexico City in about the early 1930s. Their origin was at a stall along La Viga navigation channel, where Mrs. Carmen Gomez Medina prepared tlacoyos. When the navigation channel was covered to make the "Calzada de la Viga", Mrs. Gomez moved to another place and after 1957, when the Mercado de Jamaica was founded, she moved there, and then to a little place at Torno street. Because Mrs. Gomez's new invention was shaped differently than a sope or a tlacoyo and resembled the sole of a sandal, people started to call it "huarache".

Lentils and rice, serve with chorizo or longaniza sausage

Migas ("crumbs" in English) is a dish traditionally made from stale bread and other ingredients in Spanish and Portuguese cuisines. Originally introduced by shepherds, migas are very popular across the Iberian Peninsula, and are the typical breakfast of hunters at monterías in some regions of Spain. The same name is used for a different dish made from maize or flour tortillas in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines. Migas is a traditional dish in Spanish cuisine. It was originally a breakfast dish that made use of leftover bread or tortas. Migas is usually served as a first course for lunch or dinner in restaurants in Spain.

Cutlet sandwich, made with beef, chicken, pork

Stew with meat, fruit, vegetables, chili peppers, tomatoes, pineapple, spices

A complex red sauce from Puebla, made with several different chili peppers, seeds, raisins, nuts, spices, chocolate, sugar, commonly served over chicken, turkey

Mole made with chili peppers, huitlacoche, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, broth, harina, corn tortillas, serve with turkey, venison, pork

Pork in a sauce made with chili peppers, tomatoes, onion, sesame, cloves, peppercorns, corn flour, also made with chicken

Red mole made with chili peppers, nuts, tomatoes, sesame seeds, raisins, chocolate, cinnamon, broth, bread

Mole , meaning 'sauce', is a traditional sauce and marinade originally used in Mexican cuisine. In contemporary Mexico the term is used for a number of sauces, some quite dissimilar, including mole amarillo or amarillito (yellow mole), mole chichilo, mole colorado or coloradito (reddish mole), mole manchamantel or manchamanteles (tablecloth stainer), mole negro (black mole), mole rojo (red mole), mole verde (green mole), mole poblano, mole almendrado (mole with almond), mole michoacano, mole prieto, mole ranchero, mole tamaulipeco, mole xiqueno, pipián (mole with squash seed), mole rosa (pink mole), mole blanco (white mole), mole estofado, tezmole, clemole, mole de olla, chimole, guacamole (mole with avocado) and huaxmole (mole with huaje). Generally, a mole sauce contains fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and spices like black pepper, cinnamon, or cumin. Pre-Hispanic Mexico showcases chocolate's complex role, primarily as a beverage rather than a confection. Although modern culinary practices emphasize its versatility, historical evidence indicates chocolate's earlier use in sacred rituals and as currency. It wasn't until much later that chocolate was added to mole.

Steak sandwich on pressed Cuban bread

Butterflied and grilled whole fish with one side topped with green salsa and the other side topped with red salsa

Red sauce with pumpkin seeds, serve with turkey, chicken

Green mole made with pumpkin seeds, tomatillos, hoja santa, chili peppers, garlic, onion, used with roast chicken, pork, enchiladas

Chicken in a tomatillo and chili pepper sauce

Chicken in peanut and chili pepper sauce, may also be made with pork

Pan-fried meat simmered with vegetables, potatoes, chili peppers, serve with tortillas

Ropa vieja is a dish with regional variations in Latin America, the Philippines, and Spain. It normally includes some form of stewed beef and tomatoes with a sofrito base. Originating in Spain, it is known today as one of the national dishes of Cuba. The name ropa vieja probably originates from the fact that it was often prepared using food left over from other meals, although it has been suggested that the name comes from the "tattered appearance" of the meat. The dish's origins appear to have first arisen among the Sephardic Jews of the Iberian Peninsula, as a slow-cooked stew that was prepared to be eaten over the course of a traditionally observed Shabbat, a kind of cholent called "handrajos" (similar to the Spanish word "andrajos"). Eventually this dish spread to North Africa and to the Canary Islands of Spain. The dish is believed to have been brought to the Americas by immigrants from the Canary Islands and was first reported to have been cooked in Cuba in 1857, but today is well known as a Cuban national dish.

Lentil soup is a soup with lentils as its main ingredient; may use brown, red, yellow, green or black lentils, with or without the husk. Dehulled yellow and red lentils disintegrate in cooking, making a thick soup. It is a staple food throughout Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Lentils were unearthed in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic layers of Franchthi Cave in Greece , in the end-Mesolithic at Mureybet and Tell Abu Hureyra in Syria, and at sites dating to 8000 BC in the area of Jericho. Aristophanes (5th – 4th centuries BC) called it the "sweetest of delicacies". Remains of lentils were found in royal tombs in the Theban Necropolis in Egypt, dating to 2400 BC. The Roman cookbook Apicius, compiled in the 1st century AD, includes a recipe for lentil soup with chestnuts. Lentil soup is mentioned in the Bible: in Genesis 25:30-34, Esau is prepared to give up his birthright for a pot of fragrant red lentil soup being cooked by his brother, Jacob. In Jewish tradition, lentil soup has been served at times of mourning; the roundness of the lentil represents a complete cycle of life.

Soup made with nopale cactus

Lightly fried noodles cooked in a sauce made with tomatoes, chili peppers, herbs

Marinated shawarma meat, typically pork, that is cooked on a spit and eaten in a pita with, for example, chipotle salsa (Arab taco salsa), chili peppers, crema

Tacos filled with several different types of meat such as steak, chorizo, chicharron, as well as potatoes, onions, nopalitos, salsa, cilantro

Corn tortillas topped with pounded pork or beef, avocado, cilantro, onions, salsa, limes

Suadero, in Mexican cuisine, is a thin cut of meat from the intermediate part of the cow or pig between the belly and the leg. Suadero is noted for having a smooth texture rather than a muscle grain. Typically, suadero is confited or fried and used as a taco filling. Suadero, also known as matambre in Argentina, sobrebarriga in Colombia, and rose meat in the United States of America, is the name of a very thin cut of beef in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, taken from between the skin and the ribs, a sort of flank steak. In Mexico City, México, it is very common and popular, offered mainly on street taco stands, but also eaten in sandwiches and in a sort of round thick hollow fritter, made of corn dough, served hot, flat and filled with various meats, garnishes and sauces; these are called gorditas.

Tinga is a Mexican dish made with shredded chicken in a sauce made from tomatoes, chipotle chilis in adobo, and sliced onions. It is often served on a tostada and accompanied by a layer of refried beans. It can be topped with avocado slices, crumbled cheese, Mexican crema, and salsa. Although tinga is consumed throughout central and southern Mexico today, it is presumed to have a Pueblan origin. In recent years this cuisine has been expanding across the borders and can be found in most Mexican restaurants. Determining the exact place "tinga" originated is difficult due to the lack of sufficient records and information about the dish. In his Dictionary of Mexicanisms (1895), Francisco J. Santamaría defines "tinga" as a colloquial term to refer to something "vulgar" or "disorderly", though he does not give the etymology of the word.

A tlacoyo [tɬaˈkoʝo] is a Mexican dish of pre-Hispanic origin made of masa. Tlacoyos are thicker than fresh corn tortillas and are stuffed with cheese, fava beans, cooked ground beans, chicharron, and other ingredients before being fried or toasted. Tlacoyos can be served as an accompaniment to soups and stews or as appetizers for celebrations. They are made in varying shapes, most being oval and some also triangular. Most traditional tlacoyos do not have lard or salt in the masa, and if not eaten soon after they are cooked, they become very tough and dry, even if reheated. In Mexican markets, vendors keep their tlacoyos warm by putting them in a covered basket, with the additional effect that the steam keeps them moist for a longer time. The word tlacoyo derives from the Nahuatl word tlahtlaōyoh [t͡ɬɑʔt͡ɬɑˈoːjoʔ]), a name given to an antojito typical of central Mexico. Spelling variations include tlayoyis, clacoyos, tlatloyos, tlayoyos and tlaoyos.

Telera roll stuffed full with meat, hot dogs, eggs, ham, Oaxaqueño cheese, pierna, lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion, jalapeños and mashed black beans, created in Mexico City

Ham sandwich

A very large tamale, which can be up to 6 feet long, commonly made to sell as a street food, for festivals, holidays, special events

Avocado stuffed with shrimp, rice, tuna, ground beef

Yellow rice is a traditional yellow-colored rice dish in Iranian, Middle East, Moroccan, Ecuadorian, Peruvian, Caribbean, Portuguese, Filipino, Afghan, Indian, Sri Lankan, South African and Indonesian cuisines. It is made using white rice turned yellow by annatto, saffron or turmeric. South African yellow rice, with its origins in Cape Malay cuisine, influenced by Indonesian cuisine, is traditionally made with raisins, sugar, and cinnamon, making a very sweet rice dish served as an accompaniment to savoury dishes and curries. In Sri Lanka, it is known as kaha buth and draws from both Indonesian and Sri Lankan influences.

Rice cooked with cheese

In Spanish, cecina [θeˈθina] is meat that has been salted and dried by means of air, sun or smoke. The word comes from the Latin siccus , via Vulgar Latin (caro) *siccīna, "dry (meat)". Cecina is similar to ham and is made by curing cow, horse or rabbit meat. The best known cecina is Cecina de León, which is made of the hind legs of a cow, salted, smoked and air-dried in the provinces of León and Palencia in northwestern Spain, and has PGI status. The word cecina is also used to name other kinds of dried or cured meat in Latin America.

Octopus ceviche

Avocado salsa, serve with tacos, salads, grilled steak, arepas, empanadas, fried cassava, fried plantains, tequenos

Longaniza is a Spanish sausage (embutido) similar to a chorizo and also closely associated with the Portuguese linguiça. Its defining characteristics are interpreted differently from region to region. It is popular in the cuisines of several regions of Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Chile. In the Philippines, it is called longganisa and has hundreds of variants with different vernacular tastes and forms due to the 144 ethno-linguistic groups of the archipelago. Longaniza essentially tracks the spread of Latin culture (in the sense of the original Latini, from Italy) around the world. Longaniza derives from Lucanica, a sausage from Lucania in Southern Italy that was adopted by the Latins of Ancient Rome through military contact. From there it spread to Spain, and from Spain, centuries later, to every place in the world with modern "Latin" (e.g., Latin American) culture. In Spain, longaniza is similar to salchichón, though thinner; both differ from chorizo in that black pepper is used for them instead of paprika and may have different spices in them like nutmeg. In Argentina and Uruguay, longaniza is a very long, cured and dried pork sausage that gets its particular flavour from ground anise seeds. This results in a very particular aroma, and a mildly sweet flavour that contrasts with the strong salty taste of the stuffing. It is used mainly as an appetizer or in sandwiches, and very rarely cooked.

Memelas, also known as memelitas, are fried or toasted cakes made of masa topped with different fresh ingredients eaten as antojitos or snacks in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca, Tlaxcala, and Puebla, Mexico, which has its origins in prehispanic food. They are similar to fresh corn tortillas, but are slightly thicker and usually oblong/oval in shape. Memela is the local name for the almost identical sope and huarache served in other parts of Mexico, but with different toppings. The corn masa is flattened with a tortilla press, pinched to create indentations along its borders, then placed over a hot comal or griddle. When the tortilla-like base is cooked and charred where the dough hits the hot metal of the grill and becomes as chewy as a medium-well steak, it is then topped with black beans, salsa, shredded cabbage, mole negro, guacamole, and cheese. Although the traditional memela is supposed to be topped with no other additional ingredients, those toppings now vary from recipe to recipe. Modern incarnations include other vegetables and the option of a layer of tinga or potatoes and sausage.

A sauce made with almonds, chili peppers, sesame, bread, tortillas, salt, sugar, chocolate, spices, seeds, nuts, raisins, peanuts, broth, serve with turkey, chicken, pork

Stew with meat, fruit, vegetables, chili peppers, tomatoes, pineapple, spices

A complex red sauce from Puebla, made with several different chili peppers, seeds, raisins, nuts, spices, chocolate, sugar, commonly served over chicken, turkey

Mole made with chili peppers, huitlacoche, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, broth, harina, corn tortillas, serve with turkey, venison, pork

Pork in a sauce made with chili peppers, tomatoes, onion, sesame, cloves, peppercorns, corn flour, also made with chicken

Red mole made with chili peppers, nuts, tomatoes, sesame seeds, raisins, chocolate, cinnamon, broth, bread

Mole , meaning 'sauce', is a traditional sauce and marinade originally used in Mexican cuisine. In contemporary Mexico the term is used for a number of sauces, some quite dissimilar, including mole amarillo or amarillito (yellow mole), mole chichilo, mole colorado or coloradito (reddish mole), mole manchamantel or manchamanteles (tablecloth stainer), mole negro (black mole), mole rojo (red mole), mole verde (green mole), mole poblano, mole almendrado (mole with almond), mole michoacano, mole prieto, mole ranchero, mole tamaulipeco, mole xiqueno, pipián (mole with squash seed), mole rosa (pink mole), mole blanco (white mole), mole estofado, tezmole, clemole, mole de olla, chimole, guacamole (mole with avocado) and huaxmole (mole with huaje). Generally, a mole sauce contains fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and spices like black pepper, cinnamon, or cumin. Pre-Hispanic Mexico showcases chocolate's complex role, primarily as a beverage rather than a confection. Although modern culinary practices emphasize its versatility, historical evidence indicates chocolate's earlier use in sacred rituals and as currency. It wasn't until much later that chocolate was added to mole.

A molote is a filled, plantain or corn-based pastry usually served as an appetizer or snack in Mexican cuisine. It consists of a dough made from plantain or corn masa, sometimes blended with mashed potatoes, that is filled with various ingredients, then fried in lard or oil. In some areas molotes are rolled into cigar shapes or ovals, in others they are formed into half moons similar to empanadas.

Sautéed potatoes and roasted poblano chili peppers

Salsa made with Pasilla de Oaxaca chili peppers, tomatillos, garlic, salt and water

Red sauce with pumpkin seeds, serve with turkey, chicken

Green mole made with pumpkin seeds, tomatillos, hoja santa, chili peppers, garlic, onion, used with roast chicken, pork, enchiladas

Queso flameado , also known as queso fundido or choriqueso, is a dish of hot melted cheese and spicy chorizo that is often served flambé. Often compared to cheese fondue, it is a party dish; it is popular at cookouts and in restaurants as an appetizer. Almost unique in Mexican cuisine, in the cuisine of the United States this dish has been widely adapted and is considered a native dish in El Paso. In Mexico, it occurs in restaurants more often in the north. Typical main ingredients are melted cheese and a characteristic meat sauce of loose fresh chorizo, tomato, onion, chile and spices. It is served in a small, shallow casserole or other ceramic or metal heat-proof baking dish. The cheese and sauce are prepared separately, and combined just before serving. This may be done at the table, especially if finished with a flambé: high alcohol liquor is poured on the cheese and ignited, and as it burns the server folds in the sauce. If not flambéed, the mixture may be quickly broiled. Either way, the finished dish is presented while it is still bubbling hot, and it is spooned onto small soft tortillas for individual servings. Queso flameado is said to originate in the borderlands of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, as a campfire dish. In Tex-Mex restaurants, this dish is sometimes confused or conflated with chili con queso, a cheese sauce served with tortilla chips for dipping. The term queso fundido also refers to processed cheese and is defined as such in the Spanish version of Codex Alimentarius.

Fresh white cheese made with unpasteurized milk

A black seasoning paste made from heavily roasted/charred chili peppers,use with soups, chicken, pork

Ricotta-like cheese made from cow, goat or sheep milk

Sauce made with tomatoes, onion, chili peppers, garlic, cilantro, seasonings and beer, used with tacos, fajitas, chicken, eggs, tortilla chips

A spicy sauce made with olive oil, peanuts or other nuts, toasted chili peppers, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, brown sugar, vinegar, good with grilled fish, fish tacos, seafood

A sauce that is between a salsa and a mole, made with chili peppers, raisins, almonds, onion, garlic, cinnamon, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chocolate, used with grilled chicken, turkey, pork

Taco sauce, made with tomatoes, tomatillos, chili peppers, onion, garlic, seasonings

Mortar-ground chipotle salsa, used with tacos arabes (Arab tacos, taco árabe)