Mexican Food is Simple
But simple doesn't equal tasteless.
Simplicity Belies Taste
The meal in the photo doesn’t look like much. But its simplicity belies its taste. My order consisted of five corn tortillas dipped in hot oil, each filled with a scant amount of mashed potato then tightly rolled and served on a sheet of brown paper with a small styrofoam cup of salsa verde on the side for dipping the tacos.
These tacos are seriously delicious.
Since 1961 for a Reason
These tacos are from Tacos Don Yeyo in Reynosa, Tamaulipas which has been in business since 1961. When you order you have two choices for tacos, potato or bean. They don’t ask what salsa you want. You get salsa verde by default. If you ask, they will bring you salsa roja. That’s the entire menu, two types of filling and two salsas.
My wife has eaten here for her entire life. The restaurant is just the garage of a house which has plastic tables if you want to eat there. Much of their business comes from takeout orders. Cars line up down the street. Waiters will come out to the cars and return with the orders in a few minutes.
The whole process is simple but the food is delicious.
Much of Mexican Food is Simple
This meal represents much of what Mexican cooking is especially Mexican home cooking. Simple ingredients prepared deliciously and economically to serve a hungry family. Food is made with care because Mexicans are demanding diners. They are used to good food and appreciate well made meals but well made doesn’t have to mean elaborate.
Of course in Mexico, there are many elaborate time consuming dishes, such as mole Poblano, but they tend to be for special occasions and large gatherings like weddings, Christmas, and family get-togethers. Day-to-day cooking tends to be simpler.
Some Simple(r) Favorites
To illustrate my point that simple can be delicious here are a bunch of recipes that are regular favorites in my house.
(Many of these recipes come from our original blog which we are slowly migrating over to Substack. One day we’ll get them all moved over.)
And of course tacos of all kinds. If you have a tortilla and something to put into it, you now have a taco. The taco is the ultimate simple dish. These asadero cheese tacos with salsa verde are delicious, easy too.
What is your favorite simple everyday recipe? Doesn’t have to be Mexican.
Sounds fantastic! Is there a name for these types of tacos?