As we were looking at the city of Puebla, Mexico (the birthplace of the La India Maria actress María Elena Velasco) we saw that several unique and popular recipes originate from this city.
Mole
[ed. note: pronounced moe – lay, or possibly mole-eh?]
The best-known mole is named after the city of Puebla, mole poblano. The origin of this sauce is disputed and there are two versions of the legend that are most often cited. The first states that 16th century nuns from the Convent of Santa Rosa were worried because they had just found out that the archbishop was going to visit them and they had nothing to prepare for him except for an old turkey in the yard. Supposedly due to divine inspiration, they began to mix together many of the spices and flavorings they had on hand in the kitchen, including different types of chili peppers, other spices, day-old bread, chocolate and approximately twenty other ingredients. They let the sauce simmer for hours and poured it over the turkey meat. Fortunately, the archbishop was very pleased with the meal and the nuns were able to save face.
Panic at the Convent! What are we going to feed the Archbishop?
The creation of mole really captures the resourcefulness and creativity often found in traditional cuisine. It’s amazing how necessity, combined with a bit of divine inspiration, can produce such an enduring and iconic dish. Mole is such a rich blend of flavors—sweet, spicy, savory—all layered together. It’s almost like a culinary symphony.
Elder G
Hey, what about ol’ Tom out in the courtyard?“Supposedly due to divine inspiration, they began to mix together many of the spices and flavorings they had on hand in the kitchen, including different types of chili peppers, other spices, day-old bread, chocolate and approximately twenty other ingredients.” – WikipediaSuccess! A wonderful meal for the Archbishop.
You can find a nice recipe for mole poblano on The Mexican Food Journal site. Before starting, make sure to clear your calendar for the day! Lots of ingredients, lots of steps.
Created for People Who Love Mexican Food
You love Mexican food so you have come to the right place. You will find authentic Mexican recipes, cooking techniques, food photos and interviews with Mexican cooks to teach and to inspire you. – Mexican Food Journal
Chiles en Nogada
Another famous dish, chiles en nogada, was also supposedly invented here [Puebla, Mexico]. The story begins with three sisters from Puebla who met officers from Agustin de Iturbide’s Army of the Three Guarantees in Mexico City and fell in love with them. Attempts were made to engage the couples but one problem was that none of the sisters knew how to cook. Upon returning to Puebla, their mother sent them to the Convent of Santa Monica to learn. The women decided they wanted to make an original dish to impress Iturbide and his officers when they were due to visit Puebla. The dish, chiles en nogada, represents the colors of the Mexican flag, green (parsley), white (the walnut sauce) and red (pomegranate seeds). The dish was served for the first time at a banquet for Iturbide with great success.
Wikipedia / Image By Arturo Sánchez – originally posted to Flickr as chile en nogada, CC BY 2.0
The three young women arriving at the Convent of Santa Monica, looking a bit nervous but ready to learn.The young women learning to cook under the guidance of the nuns at the Convent of Santa Monica.The young women proudly serving chiles en nogada to Agustin de Iturbide and his officers, capturing the joyful success of their culinary creation
Chiles en nogada is a traditional Mexican dish made of stuffed poblano peppers with a sweet and savory meat filling, and a unique walnut-cream sauce drizzled on top. The finishing touches are pomegranate seeds and a pinch of parsley. It’s a dish that will impress everyone!
Chiles en nogada were made to celebrate Mexican Independence Day and were usually served for entertainment and hosting. It’s said to hold all the colors of the Mexican flag: red, white, and green!
This recipe sounds delicious, but I quickly realized that it is way beyond my skills, and the preparation time involved is beyond my predicted life expectancy.
WLBOTT Test Kitchen
Chiles en nogada proved too much for us….
Acitrón
The acitrón is a Mexican candy which is commonly used as a decoration on a three kings’ cake. As an ingredient, it has great cultural significance since it is used in a large number of ritual and festive preparations. Unfortunately, the biznaga cactus from which acitróns are made is an endangered species due to excessive consumption.
Acitróns are obtained by extracting the pith from the cactus and then putting it through a crystallizing process, which produces a sweet yellow or translucent cream, with a smooth texture on the inside and a firm layer on the outside. Once the process is complete, the acitrón has a sugar content of 70 to 75%.
