Items You Will Probably Want To Purchase For Mexican Cooking
Posted by Beverley Drake | Mexico | Posted on November 22nd, 2009
In order to cook authentic Mexican foods you will need some special tools. While it is possible to do Mexican cooking without these tools, true Mexican flavor depends on some of these tools that allow the food to develop the traditional flavors.
A Cazuelas is a pottery dish that is used to simmer mole or other sauces. Clay disperses the heat very evenly and thus eliminates burnt spots. Usually shallow (five to seven inches deep) Cazuelas are round and bowl shaped. Handles make them easier to handle when using an open fire. Sometimes the outsides are painted in bright and beautiful colors and the insides are glazed. Clay imparts a great flavor to any dish.
The Olla or Barro are also clay pots from Mexico. They are very large and are used to slow cook beans, soups or stews. Heating is very even and ingredients can be cooked all day long on open flames. These pots will break, especially if exposed to extreme temperature changes.
The griddle or Comal can be made of cast iron, aluminum or even clay. The griddle is round and can be used to warm tortillas or for roasting vegetables including chiles. There are several sizes of Comals available, some up to two feet in diameter.
The Metate y Mano is a hand grinder that has been carved from lava rock or stone. We would call it a mortar and pestle. In Mexico, it is used for grinding corn or spices and foods may be mixed using the cylinder of stone. There are usually three legs that have been carved to hold the bowl upright.
The true mortar and pestle of Mexican cooking is the Molcajete y Tejolote. It may be made of clay, stone or even wood. It has a cylinder of the same material as the bowl, which has rounded ends and is used to crush spices and other foods to bring out the flavor.
A Molinillo is a wood wisk which is used to froth hot chocolate in a cup. To use this tool, you spin it between your hands to form the foam on the chocolate.
A Tortillero or tortilla press can be made of wood, cast iron, plastic resin or aluminum. The aluminum presses break rather easily, so choose one of the other presses fro best result and to save money. Mesa is rolled into a ball and the ball is pressed flat into the shape of a tortilla. The tortilla is baked on a griddle before eating.
Traditional Mexican cooking, like many other traditional methods of cooking can is labor intensive and can take some time. Today, we have many shortcuts available that may help. Many people use these shortcuts to make very good Mexican foods in their kitchen.
In addition, you may be able to find a high quality Mexican bakery in your neighborhood that can supply you with high quality tortillas so you will not have to grind your own corn or press your own tortillas in order to make your own authentic Mexican food.
At Yellow Rose Peace Bus you can learn about cooking like fresh food breakfast ideas.
