Special Ingredients

Special Ingredients
* avocado—A fruit native to Mexico, which also can be found in most parts of the United States, with pulpy, edible flesh. Avocados are ripe if they feel slightly soft when gently sqeezed. If you buy an unripe avocado, let it sit unrefrigerated for a few days to ripen.
* basil—A rich and fragrant herb whose leaves are used in cooking. It is also sold in dried form in the spice section of supermarkets.
CHILE PEPPERS
green chile—One of the milder hot peppers, about two inches in length
* jalapeño—A spicy green pepper that can be bought canned or fresh
* poblano—A large, dark-green pepper that is triangular in shape. Poblano peppers are sometimes labeled pasilla in fresh produce bins.
* serrano—A hot pepper, green or red in color, that is slightly smaller and thinner than a jalapeño
* chili powder—A mixture of ground chiles and other herbs and spices, including cumin and oregano
* cumin—An aromatic spice used to flavor foods. Cumin seeds can be used whole or, more commonly, in a powdered form made by grinding the seeds.
* garlic—An herb whose distinctive flavor is used in many dishes. Fresh garlic can usually be found in the produce department of a supermarket.
Each piece, or bulb, can be broken up into several small sections called cloves. Most recipes use only one or two finely chopped cloves of this very strong herb. Before you chop up a clove of garlic, you will have to peel off the brittle, papery covering
that surrounds it.
* kidney bean—A large kidney-shaped bean. You can buy kidney beans dried or in cans.
* lard—A solid shortening made from pork fat. Vegetable shortening can be substituted for lard.
* mango—A tropical fruit with a thin, green-orange skin and sweet, peachy-orange flesh. At the center of a mango is a hard seed, or pit.
* masa harina—Special Mexican tortilla flour that is mixed with water to make a soft dough. Masa harina is available at most specialty groceries
and some supermarkets.
* Mexican chocolate—Used primarily to make the beverage hot chocolate, Mexican chocolate is sold in small tablets flavored with sugar, cinnamon,
and other ingredients. Many specialty groceries and supermarkets carry Mexican chocolate.
* mole—A thick, spicy sauce made with chiles, seeds, spices, and usually
chocolate and served with meat. Mole can vary from cook to cook. It is used in many traditional Mexican festival dishes. Jars of prepared mole paste can be purchased in the United States at most specialty stores and in many supermarkets.
* oregano—The dried leaves, whole or powdered, of a rich and fragrant herb that is used as a seasoning in cooking
* pimentos—Small, sweet red chiles that come in cans or bottles and are often used to add color to food
* pinto bean—A spotted red bean that has a soft, smooth texture when cooked. The pinto bean gets its name from its appearance—pinto is the Spanish word for “spotted.”
* sweetened condensed milk—A mixture of whole milk and sugar that has been thickened by evaporating most of the water from the mixture
* tortillas—Round, flat, very thin pancakes made of corn or wheat flour used commonly in Mexican cooking. Crisp-fried tortillas are used for tacos and tostadas.
vermicelli noodles—Long, very thin pasta sometimes used in Mexican soups

Category: Cooking The Mexican Way