Enchiladas consist of a tortilla that is usually dipped in a chile-based sauce, then stuffed with various fillings such as cheese, meat, or fish. Then it is rolled up, baked, and topped with sauces, onions, beans, or more cheese. This highly versatile dish is believed to have originated from a Mayan dish called papadzules, consisting of corn tortillas dipped in pumpkin purée and filled with chopped boiled eggs.
From there, numerous variations developed throughout Mexico and outside of its borders. The word enchilada, which first appeared in print in 1885, comes from the Spanish word enchilar, meaning to season with chile pepper.
Today, there are countless versions of enchiladas.
MOST ICONIC Enchiladas
Quesadilla is a simple Mexican snack consisting of a flour or corn tortilla filled with cheese that melts well. It is commonly folded in half and consumed. A quesadilla can also have some other ingredients on the inside such as meats, beans, or potatoes, but cheese is always mandatory (with the exception of Mexico City, where cheese in a quesadilla is often an afterthought).
Sometimes, it is cut into wedges and served with salsa or guacamole on the side, and it can be topped with vegetables such as diced tomatoes, onions, lettuce, or hot chiles. The origins of quesadilla are somewhat murky, but it is known that the cheese was brought to Mexico by the Spaniards along with other dairy products in colonial times, and the thin flatbreads were already a staple of the Mesoamerican people.
MOST ICONIC Quesadilla
Chile relleno is a Mexican dish with origins in the city of Puebla. It consists of chili peppers stuffed with ingredients such as cheese, nuts, cinnamon, and diced meat. Once the peppers are stuffed, they are usually dipped in eggs and flour, then deep-fried in hot oil.
The dish is traditionally served as a snack or an appetizer, most commonly in late August and early September, since it is connected to the Mexican Independence Day and the Day of San Augustin. It is believed that chile relleno was invented in the 16th century, during the time of the Spanish conquest.
MOST ICONIC Chile relleno
Enchilada Suiza is a popular Mexican dish consisting of enchiladas topped with a sauce based on milk or cream. The first one was made in a restaurant named Sanborn in Mexico City. The name of the dish can be translated as Swiss enchiladas because the Swiss immigrants introduced dairy-based sauces to Mexican cuisine.
MOST ICONIC Enchiladas Suizas
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Enchiladas de camaron is a popular Mexican dish consisting of fried tortillas filled with shrimp and various ingredients such as corn, onions, chiles, tomatoes, and coriander. These rolled tortillas are especially popular in the North Pacific and Gulf regions of Mexico, and it is recommended to serve them garnished with crema Mexicana, avocado slices, and grated cheese.