Mexican Cooking and Cooking Equipment – Some Things You Need to Know

Tacos. Nachos. Taquitos. Burritos.

Do the words mentioned above ring a bell?

Well, if you are one of the millions of people around the world who love Mexican cooking, then the names (and tastes) of the dishes mentioned above are surely familiar to you and are enough to bring hunger pangs.

Many restaurants all over the country would offer Mexican food; however, we all know that eating out always is not that practical. So, what do you do if you love eating Mexican food, but do not have enough budget to eat out often?

The answer is start cooking your own Mexican meals.

Getting Started

If you are just starting your venture into Mexican cookery, it is quite interesting to take note that Mexican food has always been evolving. From the first staples which were beans and corn, new spices and ingredients have continuously been added for over 600 years now - making the Mexican food we know today a gastronomical treat.

It is also important to know that authentic-tasting Mexican cooking is within your reach. The Internet offers thousands of recipes and cooking techniques that any novice cook can follow. Similarly, groceries and supermarkets have most of the ingredients you will need to start concocting mouth-watering meals today, like onions, Mexican chocolates, chorizo, and tortilla among others.

But do you know what can further bring out the rich flavor of Mexican dishes?

The answer lies on the cooking equipment.

Cooking Equipment Showcase

Here’s a sneak peak at some of the kind of equipment and utensils you can use to come up with that interesting meal centerpiece today.

• Cazuela (Mexican Pottery Dish)

A cazuela is a large but shallow clay dish. It is brightly colored outside and glazed inside. More often than not, it is rounded like a bowl and is about more or less seven inches deep. It usually has handles for better use over fire. This clay dish is good for simmering mole and other sauces because the clay heats evenly and thus, helps in avoiding burnt spots. The clay serves as flavoring to the meal as well.

• Olla or Barro (Mexican Pottery Pot)

An olla, which means “pot,” is a large and deep clay pot especially designed for simmering stews, soups, and beans. Barro, which literally means “mud” and generally “clay,” is ideal if you would like to cook over a direct flame the whole day. Besides imparting an earthly flavor to the dish, the clay is delicate and responsive to rapid temperature changes. <b><b>
•  Comal (Grill)

A comal is a large and round grill. Its size can range from a big dinner plate to two feet in diameter. It is often made of aluminum, cast iron or clay, but the modern versions are usually non-stick. It is ideal for warming tortillas and roasting vegetables and chilies.

• Metate y Mano (Rock Hand Grinder)

A metate y mano is a large stone or rock grinder made of lava. It is often the size of a huge rectangular serving dish. It has a large bowl-shaped stone surface that allows a large stone cylinder to be rolled on it, mixing or grinding the items positioned on the surface.

• Molcajete y Tejolote (Pestle and Mortar)

A molcajete y tejolote is a small wooden, clay, or stone bowl that comes with a long cylinder of matching material rounded on both ends. Food or spices of small amounts may be positioned in the bowl. The cylinder, on the other hand, may be used to pound the items against the insides of the bowl in a circular movement and pulverize them.

• Molinillo (Wooden Stirrer or Whisk)

A molinillo is a simple or highly decorated cylinder made of wood. It is used to produce foam on top of a cup of hot chocolate by means of being spun between your two hands.

• Tortillero (Tortilla Press)

The original tortillero is made of wood; however, it may also be created out of iron. A tortillero has two large wood blocks or large round plates wherein a ball of masa or cooked ground corn is placed and pressed to form a tortilla.

There you have it. You no longer have to eat out all the time to enjoy the Mexican cuisine you have always loved. These cooking equipment together with the right recipe and ingredients are sure to help you to come up with a great-tasting Mexican food in no time at all.