Arizona is renowned for its unique and diverse cuisine, with influences from New Mexico, Mexico, and beyond. From red chile Colorado to cheese fries, the Grand Canyon State has something for everyone. But what about the Mexican restaurants of the White Mountains region in Central Arizona? What dishes are popular in this area?I grew up in El Paso, Texas, near the Mexican border, and was exposed to a variety of Mexican-inspired dishes. From thick, sweet Coca-Cola to markets full of peppers and spicy pork, I was able to experience a wide range of flavors.
When I moved away from El Paso, I was surprised to find that not all Mexican-inspired dishes were consistent across the United States. For example, in the South I was served flat tortillas fried with cinnamon and sugar instead of puffy sopapillas with honey and powdered sugar. In the Midwest, tacos were stuffed with beef or chicken instead of fish. In Central Arizona's White Mountains region, there are a variety of popular dishes that use ingredients from the area. One classic dish is Chimayó, a rich and spicy stew made with slow-cooked pieces of beef or pork in a red chili sauce.
Cheese fries are also popular in this region. Another classic dish is Vaquero's Mexican Food, which is served in Jerome, Arizona and is considered by many to be the epitome of Arizona food. This dish consists of mesquite-charred Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizza topped with carnitas, tomatillo sauce, tomato, and red onion. Corn is an essential ingredient in many Mexican dishes. It is used to make tortillas and tamales, as well as corn pudding which can be found in Southern restaurants.
In Mexico, corn is often combined with other ingredients such as cumin, cayenne pepper, and black pepper to give food its familiar spicy flavor. Corn is also used to make chivichangas, which are fried tortilla squares filled with meat or potatoes. In addition to traditional Mexican dishes, Central Arizona's White Mountains region has its own unique cuisine that combines indigenous Mexican flavors with immigrant cultures such as Lebanese. For example, tacos al pastor are a popular dish that originated from Lebanese immigrants who arrived in Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If you're looking for new recipes to inspire your own Mexican meals, explore regional Mexican cuisine across the United States. From corn tortillas to corn tamales, corn is an important ingredient that plays an important role in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisine.
So why not take a trip to Central Arizona's White Mountains region and discover all the delicious dishes it has to offer?.
