Staples of Mexican Cooking
Essential ingredients for making Mexican or Southwestern recipesCanned Items:
Chipotles in adobo
Black beans
Pinto beans
Hominy
Tomatillo salsa
Roasted tomatoes
Chicken broth
Spices and Dried Food:
Chiles (ancho, guajillo, New Mexico Hatch, habanero, de arbol)
Mexican oregano
Cayenne
Epazote
Cumin
Coriander seed
Pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
Rice
Masa Harina
Fresh Items:
Cilantro
Jalapeno
Corn tortillas
Tomatillos
Peppers (bell and poblano)
Lime
Avocados
Onions
Sour cream
Cheese (cotija, queso fresco, cheddar, jack)
Garlic
Tomatoes (in season)
Frozen Item:
Corn
Editor's Note: "Chili" is a dish; "chile" is a pepper. If a powder is made from a blend of chiles, it's called chili powder; if it's the powder of one chile, it's chile powder.