Soups and Stews

Posole Poblano Soup

Makes 6 Servings Ingredients 4 poblano chiles 4 teaspoons corn oil 1 ancho chile 10 oz smoked pork, diced (about 2 1/2 cups) Salt to taste Freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 1/4 cups diced onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, minced 3 tablespoons masa harina […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Raw Tomatillo & Avocado Salsa

Makes 2 pints Ingredients 2 jalapeños, stems removed, halved lengthwise 10 tomatillos (about 1 lb 8 oz), husked, rinsed & quartered 1 clove garlic, peeled 1 small white onion, peeled 3/4 cup (1 oz) coarsely chopped cilantro leaves & stems 1 small avocado, pitted, peeled & cut into large dice […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Salsa Macha

Makes about 4 cups This Mexican sauce is chile-based with the rich flavors of toasted nuts and seeds. Used as a condiment alongside, well, virtually anything, this salsa shines on quesadillas and eggs, rather than as a side for tortilla chips. This blend of chiles gives a spicy, smoky finish. […]

Main Dishes

Spinach and Jack Quesadillas

These veggie-filled quesadillas are quick, easy, and simple, but feel free to add whatever ingredients you like best. Try bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms (we’d cook them first!),  or even grilled shrimp or rotisserie chickens. Makes 4 servings Ingredients 3 tbsp olive oil 12 cups (lightly packed) spinach leaves 1 […]

Main Dishes

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Avocado-Pineapple Cream

Makes 4 servings These are a super-simple vegan dinner that is both flavorful and super filling. We used black beans and sweet potato to fill our corn tortillas, but you can substitute butternut squash and chickpeas, if that’s what you have on hand. You can make the pineapple-avocado cream a […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus, Family Fun

Taco Night

What comes to mind when you think about a taco? Is it a crunchy tortilla shell filled with ground beef and lettuce? Is it a flour tortilla wrapped around shredded chicken? Or maybe you live in southern California, and a taco means grilled, freshly-caught fish in a corn tortilla. That’s […]

Main Dishes

Tacos de Carnitas (Succulent and Crispy Pork Tacos)

Makes 8 servings Ingredients 2 lb pork shoulder, cut into 2-in/5-cm cubes 1 lb pork ribs, cut into 2-bone segments 1 white onion, quartered 1 clove garlic 1 bay leaf Kosher salt, to taste 24 white corn tortillas 3 avocados, sliced 1 cup diced white onion, for garnish 3/4 cup […]

Chef's Blog

The Foods of Día de Los Muertos

You might think with a name like Día de los Muertos—or Day of the Dead—the Mexican holiday would be a somber one. But you would be wrong, because when celebrating Día de los Muertos, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans throw their biggest and best parties. As they say in Mexico, they throw […]