Then the meat is stacked on a vertical rotisserie, resembling a doner kebab. The strips of pork are marinated - amongst other things - in achiote and vinegar. Tacos al Pastorĭid you know Mexico has benefited from some Arabic influences through the years? Well, tacos al pastor are essentially a Mexican take on a traditional Lebanese kebab. Usually steamed, baked or grilled and the standard wrapping tends to be corn husks and banana leaves. Tamales are made by mixing a corn masa with lard, beating the batter - and filling it with pork, cheese, fish, chicken, boiled egg and other things before wrapping. This filling snack has been around since mesoamerican times. Because Yucatecan Edam is really salty and strong, it doesn’t melt easily so the result is a dense and strongly flavoured snack. Ranging from the plain corn tortilla filled with yellow cheese and deep-fried - to a more Yucatecan take on the fried goodness: corn and chaya tortillas, stuffed with Edam cheese. These classics of Mexican cuisine are in fact popular across the whole of Latin America. Might suffer from a food coma afterwards! Empanadas Together with huevos motulenos, one of our breakfast favourites! Think fried tortilla triangles or strips covered with red or green salsa topped with a whole bunch of goodness, like beans, eggs, cheese, cream, onion and meat of choice. Now, here in Yucatan we love more widespread Mexican cuisine too. The specialty filling you ought to try when in Mérida is definitely Edam cheese and caramel sauce or Nutella. Invented in 1938 and beloved by the daughters of a Marquis living in the city, this crepe rolled up around a variety of different fillings, got its name after the girls. Don’t let the darkness of the dish scare you off - it’s delicious! Marquesitas The meat is cooked with a paste of charred chiles, called black recado, veggies and hard-boiled eggs. Turkey is a very popular meat in Yucatan - and this turkey dish is one of the other staples of the area. The marinated meat is wrapped in banana leaves and barbecued or baked. Delicious meat marinated in achiote (a red condiment and food colouring derived from the seeds of the achiote tree), spices and the bitter Sicilian orange, now also a staple of Yucatecan cuisine. The beloved queso de bola has made its way to Yucatan thanks to the Dutch influence and can be quite a culinary surprise for international visitors. This dish is also a true celebration of Yucatan’s affair with…. Traditionally, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed. Not the lightest dish on the list! Queso relleno is a hollowed-out Edam cheese stuffed with some interesting flavours, like caramelized ground beef, peppers, onions, capers, raisins, almonds, herbs and olives. Traditionally, you will find shredded pieces of chicken or turkey, tomatoes, onions and fried tortilla in it. This delicious, hot soup resembles a broth and is made from chicken stock and lima, a distinct local type of lime that’s a little less acidic.

With panuchos, you can also expect a layer of beans (frijoles). Two dishes featuring tortillas or masa cakes which have shredded chicken or turkey layered on them.

You can also expect peas, plantains or ham - and a bit of cheese to top it up. And what better place to start than… breakfast?Ī breakfast classic! A bed of tortilla with fried eggs, refried black beans and tomato sauce. Read on to see what local dishes should make its way on your menu next time you’re here.įirst, the regional Yucatecan stuff. If you think Mexican food starts and ends with tacos (and tequila but that’s more of a liquid dish!), you better make your way over here! Specially because here, in Merida, you can experience delicious flavours that are unique to the area and its Yucatecan heritage.

Tacos de pastor negro en merida