Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mexican Seafood

By Ken Kudra

Most people do not think of seafood when they think of Mexico, but with six thousand miles of coastline, seafood is an important part of Mexican cuisine. Mexico lies right between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and it borders a good portion of the Gulf of Mexico. This area provides a great variety of seafood that can be put to good use in Mexican recipes.

One of the most popular seafood dishes in Mexico is ceviche. This dish is made with raw fish, shrimp, or squid that is diced finely. Cilantro, chili peppers, onion, and salt may be added. Finally, a citrus juice like lemon or lime is added. The acidity of the juice "cooks" the fish slightly. Some ingredients may be cooked first for safety. Ceviche is served on its own, with crackers or tostadas, or even as taco filling.

Seafood can also be simmered in the Veracruzana style. This is a sauce preparation made with tomatoes, chilies, olives, and capers. The resulting dish is both tangy and spicy. This sauce is often prepared with red snapper or shrimp. Veracruz and its surrounding region are well known for this and many other seafood dishes.

"A la Plancha" is a Spanish cooking method that is also popular in Mexico. In this method, a metal plate is set on top of an open flame for grilling. Fish does not stick to the plate like it does to a grill, yet it gets all of the grilled flavor.

Winter is the most prolific season for fishing in Mexico. Many people follow the edicts of the Catholic Church in Mexico, and so they do not eat meat on Fridays or for Lent. Seafood comes to the rescue on these days since the Church exempts it from being classified as meat. Due to this, seafood plays a big part in Mexican religious celebrations. Every family has their own recipes for making the most of whatever type of seafood they can afford to buy, no matter if it is something humble or something luxurious.

When it comes to making food in your own kitchen, do not overlook the Mexican recipes for seafood. Fish is really a versatile ingredient. Many popular dishes in Mexico include spicy stuffed clams, red snapper and shrimp stuffed chilies. Let them tickle your taste buds without having to go on vacation.

Add some of these delicious Mexican recipes to your recipe file. Seafood soup, stews and other dishes are both delicious and filling. Shrimp is used in enchiladas, tacos, and many more favorite dishes. Seafood and rice is a common dish served in Veracruz that contains fish, shrimp, octopus, clams, and crabs. Seafood frittatas are made with octopus, shrimp, crab, fish, and shellfish such as oysters, mussels, or clams for an exciting way to enjoy eggs.

Do not write off Mexican food if it does not contain beef, pork, or chicken. Seafood truly shines in Mexican cuisine. Explore the culture of Mexico through its seafood and you will see everything in a whole new light. The seafood provides the perfect combination with the many spices and ingredients best loved in Mexican cooking. - 30312

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here