Creating Delicious Tex-Mex Dishes
With the continued popularity of Latin American cuisine as well as the spread of certain regional variations, it is no surprise that Tex-Mex is undergoing something of a revolution. This particular style of cooking, which draws inspiration from Northern Mexico and modifies it to suit the decidedly Southwestern palates of diners, is quite different from both traditional Mexican fare as well as other Mexican-inspired cuisines in American such as So-Cal, which itself has boomed in popularity in recent years.
From tacos and burritos to taquitos, enchiladas, and much more, the various dishes that make up Tex-Mex are surprisingly complex, and some find the fare difficult to define. Whereas So-Cal Mexican favors clean flavors, with flavor ingredients such as Advanced Biotech’s Natural Citrus Enhancer being used to recreate the sharp citrus flavors in many dishes, Tex-Mex on the whole tends to utilize a much more vast assortment of flavors – some hailing from surprising sources.
One prominent spice, cumin, is only rarely used in Latin American cuisine, and is much more readily found in Middle Eastern dishes – something that may be a bit surprising to the typical Tex-Mex connoisseur. However, other flavors such as garlic and onion, which can be added to a product through the use of ingredients such as Advanced Biotech’s Natural Garlic Oil and Natural Methional respectively, feature just as prominently in Tex-Mex as in other Latin-inspired dishes.
When creating Tex-Mex products, whether they are ready-made frozen dishes, boxed meals, or speed scratch options such as sauces, it is important to remember that Tex-Mex can in fact be considered its own regional cuisine, the same as Cajun food from Louisiana, just to name one example. Moreover, like Cajun, the influence of Tex-Mex has spread far beyond the borders of where it was created. Packaged meal options can be found in grocery stores around the world. Flavorists have a lot to consider when creating everything for these dishes, from the spices to the sauces, meats, and even the cheese flavors that make them truly Tex-Mex.