| It is not news that the cuisine of America and the | | | | drawn from Spanish and indigenous ingredients and |
| cuisine of Mexico are quite different things. Mexican | | | | cooking methods. |
| food recipes, for example are certainly not very similar | | | | The Spanish are not the only immigrants to Mexico |
| to those found in America. Strangely enough, Canadian | | | | who have contributed to Mexican food, of course. The |
| food is rather similar to our own, as is often the case | | | | popular Mexican recipe al pastor came to the country |
| with neighboring countries - so why is the culinary | | | | with immigrants from Lebanon and Syria and is an |
| tradition of our southern neighbor so different from | | | | adaptation of the Middle Eastern dish shawarma. |
| ours? Mexican recipes use different ingredients than | | | | However, unquestionably the Spanish have had the |
| we commonly see in the average grocery store and | | | | strongest influence over Mexican food recipes. |
| create flavors, which seem exotic to American | | | | The US has had a much more diverse population |
| palates. | | | | historically, meaning that American cuisine is more of a |
| A Look at the Uniqueness of Mexico's Food History | | | | patchwork quilt of different influences and ingredients, |
| There are two important reasons why Mexican food | | | | which is characterized by constant change. By |
| differs so greatly from the standard fare in the United | | | | contrast, Mexico has been able to develop its own |
| States. One is historical. Unlike the United States, | | | | style of cooking; but Mexican cooks do of course |
| Mexico spent a much longer time as a Spanish colony | | | | adapt the foods of other countries to local tastes as |
| than did the US. It is true that parts of the US were | | | | well as enjoying them as they are. |
| originally Spanish territories, though the Spanish colonial | | | | Locally Available Ingredients Make the Difference in |
| period lasted for a much briefer length of time here, | | | | Mexican Food |
| with the influence of Spanish cuisine being pronounced | | | | The other important factor in the difference between |
| mostly in regions, which were once Spanish territory, | | | | the cuisines of Mexico and the US is in the ingredients |
| largely those bordering Mexico. | | | | used. Just like in this country, Mexican cooks and |
| The US has a different history, being a former British | | | | Spanish colonists alike have always worked with the |
| colony with most of its early immigration coming from | | | | ingredients, which were widely available. In Mexico, of |
| northern Europe and having different culinary traditions. | | | | course that meant avocado, chili peppers, corn, |
| This alone accounts for some of the divergence of | | | | pumpkins, pineapple, and other produce typical of the |
| Mexican and American cooking, since traditional | | | | country's warmer climate. |
| Mexican recipes have a profound Spanish influence | | | | This blend of native ingredients and recipes with those |
| which is missing from most American cooking. | | | | brought over by the Spanish is what made Mexican |
| For a long time, however, immigrants to Mexico from | | | | food what it is today and many of the most famous |
| the old world hailed, for the most part, from Spain, | | | | Mexican food recipes clearly show this marriage of old |
| leaving an indelible stamp on the new nation's cuisine. | | | | world and new world cuisines. From tacos to soups to |
| Many Mexican recipes are adaptations of Spanish | | | | Mexican casserole recipes, this is one very successful |
| dishes, with some classic recipes from Spain surviving | | | | - and very popular type of fusion cuisine. |
| intact. This led to a distinctive blend of culinary traditions | | | | |