If you are wanting to cook authentic Mexican foods, then there are some special equipment that you may need. Mexican cooking can be done without some of the equipment, but you will never get the true Mexican flavor without these utensils.
Mole is best made in a Cazuelas. This is a small bowl like pottery dish with handles that is used to simmer sauces. Clay is very good at dispersing heat and prevents hot spots where sauce is burnt. The handles make them easier to handle in open fires. The outside may be painted brightly and beautifully, while the inside is glazed. These clay pots look great when just setting on a shelf as decorations.
Olla or Barro are Mexicaan pots. These large clay pots are used to simmer beans, soups or stews. They offer very even heating and can be used all day long over direct flames. Clay pots are fragile and quick changes in temperature should be avoided to keep from breaking the pot.
A Comal griddle is a large griddle that is made of cast iron, aluminum or clay. It is usually round and can be used for warming tortillas or roasting chiles or other vegetables. They come in a variety of sizes from that of a large plate up to two feet across.
Carved from lava rock or other stone, the Metate y Mano is used to hand grind corn used for tortillas or other uses. It looks like a large rough mortar and pestle. Water is added to the ground corn and is mixed using the tool. The resulting mesa is rolled into balls and flattened to make tortillas.
Mexico’s true mortar and pestle is called the Molcajete y Tejolote. It can be made out of clay, wood or stone. A cylinder of the same material that has been rounded on each end is used to crush the spaces or chilis to prepare them for cooking.
A Molinillo is a wooden stirrer which is used for frothing hot chocolate. To use this tool, hold the handle between your hands and move the hands back and forth to spin the tool rapidly.
A Tortillera or tortilla press can be made or wood, cast iron or even plastic resin. Presses can be found made of aluminum, but these should be avoided since they break easily. The press can have wood blocks or round plates. Mesa is prepared and rolled into a ball. The ball is pressed to make the tortilla.
Traditional Mexican cooking, like many other traditional methods of cooking can is labor intensive and can take some time. Today, we have many shortcuts available that may help. Many people use these shortcuts to make very good Mexican foods in their kitchen.
In addition, you may be able to find a high quality Mexican bakery in your neighborhood that can supply you with high quality tortillas so you will not have to grind your own corn or press your own tortillas in order to make your own authentic Mexican food.
At Yellow Rose Peace Bus you can learn about cooking like recipes for fresh food breakfast.
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