Mexico
A Taste of Culture
Let’s begin our journey in Mexico, a country known not only for its breathtaking landscapes, from tropical beaches to ancient archaeological sites, but also for one of the most vibrant and diverse cuisines in the world.
Mexican gastronomy is a celebration of bold flavors, colorful ingredients, and ancestral cooking techniques that have been passed down through generations.
In fact, Mexican cuisine was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, not only because of its culinary richness but also because of the deep historical roots of its traditional ingredients.
At the heart of this culinary tradition lies one essential element:
Corn.
The Origin of Corn
For Mexico, corn is far more than food.
It represents history, tradition, culture, and identity.
Corn was domesticated more than 10,000 years ago in the central-southern region of Mexico, and since the time of ancient Mesoamerican civilizations it has been the foundation of everyday meals.
Today, Mexico is home to 64 native varieties of corn, each adapted to different regions, climates, and culinary traditions.
Corn appears in hundreds of traditional dishes, but one preparation stands at the center of daily life:
Corn Tortillas
If corn is the heart of Mexican cuisine, the tortilla is its daily expression.
In Mexican homes, tortillas are never missing from the table. From breakfast to dinner, they appear on the table warm, soft, and ready to accompany whatever is being served.
They are used to scoop food, wrap ingredients, or simply enjoyed on their own with a bit of salt or salsa.
Many people buy fresh tortillas from the neighborhood tortillería, where tortillas are made throughout the day and sold warm in small stacks.
Tortillas can also be prepared at home using just two ingredients:
- Nixtamalized corn flour
- Water
In today’s recipe, we’ll also learn how to prepare them ourselves.
The dough used to make tortillas is called masa, and its preparation comes from an ancient technique known as nixtamalization.
This process involves cooking corn in water with lime and allowing it to rest before grinding it into dough. The technique has been used in Mesoamerica for thousands of years and remains a fundamental part of traditional Mexican cooking.
Corn tortillas are the base of many traditional Mexican dishes — including one of the most famous:
Tacos
In Mexico, a taco is something beautifully simple.
At its most basic, a taco is a warm corn tortilla filled with something delicious.
That “something” can be almost anything: grilled meat, slow-cooked pork, seafood, vegetables, beans, eggs, or even just cheese and salsa.
Because of this simplicity, tacos appear everywhere in Mexican daily life.
They are eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack, and they can be found on street corners, markets, small restaurants, and family kitchens across the country.
What makes tacos special is not just their flavor, but their incredible variety. Every region has its own style, and every family adds its own touch; a different marinade, a special salsa, or a small ingredient that turns a simple taco into something unique.
Today we will prepare one of the most popular and easy tacos to cook at home:
Carne Asada Tacos
This version is simple, full of flavor, and perfect for bringing a small taste of Mexico into your kitchen.
Today’s Dish: Carne Asada Tacos
Overview
Dish: Carne Asada Tacos
Cuisine: Mexican
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
Corn Tortillas
- 1 cup nixtamalized corn flour
- 1/2 cup water
Carne Asada
- 300g beef
- 165 ml beer
- 1 lime
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 onion
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Preparation
Step 1. Marinate the meat
- Cut the beef into thin slices.
- In a bowl, place the meat with beer, lime juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Mix well until the meat is fully coated and let it marinate for about 30 min.
- While the meat marinates, you can start preparing the tortillas.
Step 2. Prepare the tortillas
- In a bowl, mix corn flour, and water until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough into small balls.
- Press each ball into a thin tortilla using a tortilla press or a flat surface.
- Heat a pan until it is hot.
- Cook each tortilla for about 30–40 seconds per side until lightly golden.
- Keep the tortillas wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to keep them warm.
Step 3. Cook the meat
- Heat a pan or grill over high heat.
- Cook the marinated beef until it is nicely browned.
- Once cooked, cut the meat into small bite-sized pieces.
Final step. Assemble the tacos
- Place the grilled meat on the warm tortillas.
- Add chopped onion and fresh cilantro.
- Finish with a squeeze of lime and your favorite salsa.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Want to see each step in action? Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for the full cooking process.
Where to Find the Ingredients?
Even if you don’t live in Mexico, all Mexican ingredients used in this recipe are easy to find in Switzerland.
Sources
Mexican Cuisine: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Tortilla Consumption in Mexico
Traditional Mexican Culinary Technique: Nixtamalization of Corn
Continue the journey
From Mexico, our journey continues to Switzerland…
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