Mexican Food often refers to the cuisine of Mexico, although abroad, the cuisine has been adapted using local flavors despite using the same name.
Mexican cuisine is heavily influenced by both the indigenous peoples of what is today known as Mexico and Spanish culture. When Spanish explorers first encountered Aztec peoples, they noted that their diet primarily consisted of corn, tomatoes, and beans. However, in the 16th century, the Spanish introduced rice, meats, and garlic to Mexico, and the centuries that followed saw numerous adaptations of traditional recipes to what is known today as "Mexican food."
Today, Mexican cuisine is known for its wide variety of flavors and dishes. In addition, because of the country's wide geographic variety, Mexican dishes may be completely different from region to region.
Popular dishes include rice, beans, tortillas, and a meat item. Mexican cuisine makes heavy use of tomatoes and avocados, in addition to bell peppers, cheese, and cilantro. Unlike adaptations in the United States, however, Mexican dishes hardly ever include cheese in tacos or tostadas, whereas the ingredient is common north of the border.
Outside Mexico itself, the country's cuisine is popular, especially in states with large expatriate populations such as California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida. In many states, the cuisine has been adapted using local flavors, such as in the Southwest (mainly Texas and New Mexico) where chili peppers are ...
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