Ideas for a Mexican themed meal/party.

[Imtoooldforallthis]

Looking for ideas, recipes, links for a Mexican themed party. Bonus points for things to prepare and make ahead. Preferable not too messy to eat so although I might do tacos, enchiladas, quiesadillas I'm looking for something bit different and also some things not to spicy for some of the quests.

Loads of brilliant ideas, I've got 2 weeks to plan, will the chilli colorado freeze? I will only freeze if it gets better though.

I have never frozen chile colorado but I can't see why not.

Here is a recipe for it made by a very famous chef from my hometown in Texas. We both have relatives from the same part of northern Mexico and his recipe is how we make the dish in our city.

I hope you can see the video.

Just watched looks really nice, making me hungry now.

Chicken mole. Not really finger food but could cut to bite size and put mole in small dipping pots.

Quesadillas
Birra tacos
Enchiladas

Alll the sides...

Flan or churros for dessert

I'd recommend both her books:
Mexican Food Made Simple & Wahaca at Home - both have some great recipes. Her guacamole is amazing, as is the fresh tomato salsa.

Got both the Thomosina books, I think I preferred the first one although disappointed that neither had a chili colorado in. Also anyone that cooks the chili colorado would you use pork or beef?

@Imtoooldforallthis

Got both the Thomosina books, I think I preferred the first one although disappointed that neither had a chili colorado in. Also anyone that cooks the chili colorado would you use pork or beef?

I use beef (like in the video I posted). Pork is used more for green chile stew. However, pork could be used.

Got the chillies for this recipe which is similar to that video but uses pork, but I think my guest will prefer beef.

www.bonappetit.com/recipes/article/groat-ricks-chili-colorado

Yes, chilli colorado freezes well. As for desserts - have a look a Rick Stein's recipe for Mexican rice pudding with honeycomb and mango - I love it, and now I want some!

Recipe is here

mexgrocer.co.uk is brilliant

Just thought I'd report back, I made the chili colorado, I ordered anchors, pasillaa and guajilos chillies, used beef and slow cooked for 3 hours and I have to say I'm quite disappointed. It looks lovely thick glossy sauce, meltingly soft beef but the flavour is not right. I can't quite but my finger on what's wrong but there is no depth of flavour I don't know what I've done wrong, but it feels like it's missing something possibly onions. I've put it in the fridge and I think I'm going to add some kidney beans and some dark chocolate see if that helps.

Fry up some bacon bits and add them in as well as the dark chocolate. Also one of those umami kallo stock cubes.

Two possibilities strike me - firstly, did you use Mexican oregano? It's a lot more pungent than the regular oregano (I got mine from the aforementioned Spices on the Web). Secondly, I've never tried beef in the recipe - maybe the extra fat in the pork carries some of the flavour? Another thought - have you used enough seasoning/salt? I tend to underestimate the amount needed, 'cos we don't usually use much salt due to DH's blood pressure issues. Finally - try it again the next day, sometimes it take a while for the flavour to fully develop. HTH!

I have actually made that recipe before but I did fry a few streaky bacon slices and then fried a whole chopped onion and garlic in the bacon fat. I also added one dark beer. I think that maybe you could improve it with more salt and I do agree that Mexican oregano also adds a nice dimension.

🤔

Additionally with that recipe you used, I would have included dried chipotles and possibly chile arbol and the author didn't toast the chiles first before rehydrating them. I also would have toasted some garlic in their skins and added them to the blender with the rehydrated chiles and their broth with a bit of salt and pepper and a touch of honey for a light sweetness.

I'm also thinking you could add a touch of brown sugar and a dash of red wine vinegar to perk it up.

Not finger food, but Mexican Lasagne, using tortilla wraps and chilli in place of the Italian equivalents is really nice and you can make it as mild or as spicy as needed.