Cinco de Mayo: 25 recipes to celebrate

Happy Cinco de Mayo. In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over French forces in 1862. Here in the U.S., it’s an excuse to celebrate the food and drink introduced by our neighbors to the south. And, for many people, no fiesta would be complete without guacamole and margaritas.

We’ve compiled 25 of our favorite recipes to celebrate the occasion. Whether you’re looking for a simple snack, savory main or sweet finish, we’ve got some tempting offerings. Did we mention cocktails?

From carne asada tacos to ceviche, enchiladas, quesadillas and more, many dishes are easily assembled with very little active time. Don’t forget the chiles rellenos or the creamy flan. We’ve also got not one, but three margarita recipes to choose from, as well as a classic recipe for guacamole, which you can also find below.

GUACAMOLE

Total time: 10 minutes | Makes 2 cups

Note: Molcajetes, lava stone mortar and pestles, are widely available at Latino markets and selected cookware stores.

2 heaping tablespoons finely chopped white onion
3 serrano chiles, seeded and finely chopped
4 heaping tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro plus cilantro leaves with little stems for garnish
3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
3 large avocados or 4 small avocados
4 ounces ripe tomatoes, finely chopped (about 2/3 cup)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

1. In a molcajete, grind together the onions, chiles, chopped cilantro and salt to a paste.

2. Cut the avocados into halves, remove the pits and spoon the flesh into the molcajete. Mash the avocado into the onion-chile mixture until it is a uniform texture, but not smooth (it should still have some lumps).

3. Stir in the tomatoes and lime juice, adjust the seasoning and top with the cilantro leaves.

Each tablespoon: 36 calories; 0 protein; 2 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 3 grams fat; 0 saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 57 mg. sodium.

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