The United States is a land of eclectic dining, but Mexican food is among the most popular cuisines. According to Pew Research , Mexican restaurants make up about 1 in 10 restaurants in America. While they’re very common in California and Texas, about 85% of all U.
S. counties have at least one Mexican eatery. Pew also reports Mexican-Americans are the largest Hispanic group in the U.
S., which could account for the popularity of Mexican cuisine. While it’s typical for casual Mexican restaurants to offer chips and salsa to every table, the ethnic, vibrant cuisine is much deeper than a complimentary appetizer.
What Defines Mexican Food? Ask, “What is Mexican food?” and you may be met with varied answers. There are common, almost stereotypical Mexican foods, like tamales and pico de gallo , but Mexican cuisine encompasses a wide variety of flavors and ingredients. According to Moon , the roots of Mexican cuisine could be as old as the 15th century and primarily featured ingredients like squash, corn, beans, and chile peppers.
When the Spanish settled the area, they introduced new ingredients and cooking methods, including onions, cheese, and rice. What we consider Mexican food today slowly emerged from the fusion of those two cultures. Tex-Mex is a specific variant of “authentic” Mexican food and evolved as Texas residents discovered unique and flavorful dishes served south of the border and adopted them into their cuisine .
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