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Named by the Spanish Conquistators -
tortillas are an important part of the Mexican diet. In Spanish
cookery a tortilla is a flat omelette usually filled with potatoes,
onions, or salt cod, which is cut into quarters like a cake.
Traditionally grilled on
earthenware utensils, they are used as bread and often filled and
stuffed. The original Indian method of preparation consisted of
kneading the cornmeal dough (masa) on a stone called a metate and
then shaping into circles. Tortillas can be bought ready made cooked
or raw. Fillings include guacomole, fajitas, grated cheese (queso),
tomato salsa, chopped raw onions, picadillo (spicy meat sauce). |
Main dishes include:
- Tacos: where the tortilla is used as a sandwich.
- Enchiladas: where the filling is rolled in tortilla then coated with sauce
and cooked in an oven.
- Chilaquiles: thin fried strips of tortilla coated with sauce and
cooked in an oven.
- Quesadillas: tortilla is filled folded into turnovers and then
fried.
- Mexican breakfast: fried eggs on fried tortillas garnished with
tomatoes, crushed red peppers and avocado slices |
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