Mexican Appetizers

 by: The Vasquez Family

Appetizers are typically served before a meal, but they can be an anytime snack or even made into a meal by themselves. There are many different kinds of Mexican appetizers. Quesadillas are a traditional favorite, made with fresh tortillas and cheese. Sliced into small triangles, they are a perfect party snack. Add some meat or beans and watch people make a meal out of these. Another satisfying appetizer is Guacamole . It can be served with chips as a dip or on a bed of lettuce as a salad, as small or large as you want it to be. For a wonderful addition to breakfast, try out Mollete Dulce - most easily described as the Mexican version of cinnamon toast. No matter what you choose to make as an appetizer, you are sure to have a hit if you include tortilla chips and a variety of meats, cheeses, and dips.

One of the most common and easiest appetizers to make is Nachos. Nachos can be as simple as tortilla chips and melted cheese or made into an entire meal by themselves, by adding all different kinds of ingredients, like meat and beans. Tortilla chips are never far from a Mexican table as they are served with your favorite salsa, guacamole, or pico de gallo. And don't forget almost everyone's favorite appetizer - the Queso dip! Also served with tortilla chips for dipping pleasure, queso can be added to many main dishes, such as burritos and enchiladas. Many people also enjoy dipping fresh, warm tortillas in their queso.

Another Mexican favorite is Mollete. Mollete is a type of bread that is made using customary methods and is cooked only until it is soft and crumbly. Traditionally, Mollete is served topped with refried beans, and can be served with or without cheese and either salsa or a chile sauce.

Plantain chips are often added to the table as an appetizer. Plantains are often mistakenly referred to as bananas, but they are larger and not as soft and sweet like the bananas we typically buy at the local grocery store. Plantains contain less sugar and are normally firmer than bananas. They are normally used when they are over or under ripe. The riper a plantain becomes, the sweeter it is. To make plantain chips, you need to remove the outer skin and slice the plantain into 'rounds'. Feel free to make these as thin or thick as you like. Fry the 'rounds' in oil, and remove when golden brown. Remember, the thicker your slices, the longer the cooking time. Drain well. If you have used an under ripe plantain, the chips typically taste like potato chips. If your plantain is riper, then your chips will be sweeter. Salt to taste and set out for your guests to enjoy.

GREAT MEXICAN DESSERTS

FLAN

Flan is a silky-smooth, egg custard topped with caramel sauce.

EMPANADAS

Empanadas are a triangularly shaped bread that is filled with various sweet and delicious fruit fillings like sweet potato, pumpkin, or pineapple.

CHURROS

Churros are sticks of fried dough covered with cinnamon and sugar. They are made either plain or stuffed with a fruit filling.