midtown global market
Mexican Market Experiences
These are 5 great learning experiences perfectly summed up in David’s post:
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/stickaforkinit/2015/02/mexican_market_shopping.php
I’d like to add that our market El Burrito Mercado also offers other unique experiences:
– variety of fresh & dry peppers
– unique beverage brand choices
– a fresh panaderia
– a huge deli of homemade foods like bot other in Minnesota
– a display of imported artesania gifts
– outside cirn & taco stands in the summer
– a full bar with original margarita flavors
– live local latino musicians every Friday evening
– full service authentic catering
If you still haven’t experienced us, go soon!
El Burrito Mercado is located just south of downtown St Paul across Robert St bridge & a smaller replica inside Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.
Rosca de Reyes, Tradition and Faith
Rosca de Reyes, Tradition & Faith
Rosca de Reyes, it’s both traditional holiday celebrated through Latin America, Mexico, and parts of Europe (aka Epiphany ) . Again, food associated with a religious celebration.
During the era of the kings of France, bread was filled with a lima bean, and the person who found it in his bread would receive the gift that His Highness had prepared for the event. The idea was to place a lima bean in the bread dough, which was usually filled with fruits like dates and raisins, and this bread was shared around the time of the New Year festivities. The tradition changed a bit when it arrived to the Americas, transforming itself according to the customs and resources of our country, where it eventually became the rosca. (http://www.inside-mexico.com/reyesoscar.htm)
Hot chocolate accompanies the rosca. So every year, on January 6, families all across Mexico gather around their tables to share the rosca de reyes. And now, instead of finding a lima bean in the bread, a little plastic doll representing Jesus is placed in the bread. The person who receives a piece of bread with this doll inside has to make the tamales used in the fiesta de la Candelaria on February 2. This celebration is the last of the Christmas festivities after Jesus’s birth.
FAITH. The Rosca de Reyes, or ring-shaped Rosca de Reyes is a sweet round, cake or oval shape Mexican bread, decorated with slices of crystallized or candied fruit colors. The King cake is also called: biscuit, cake or sweet bread, the celebration of the Epiphany to enjoy the Rosca de Reyes is a Mexican tradition that takes place 12 days after Christmas, Epiphany Day or the appearance of the Wise Men or Magi Kings: Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar.
Every year, and for many many years now, El Burrito Mercado panaderia offers Rosca de Reyes to grab from shelf in various sizes, or to assure you get your rosca, call ahead and order! Don’t forget to also order tamales and grab some Abuelita!
chocolate!
Feliz Dia de los Reyes Magos!
Millions of Gallons of Salsa for Superbowl!
I haven’t been able to get my mom to write a recipe book yet, so, I’m going to ‘trick’ her into working on it by helping me with my new monthly recipe blogs! Eventually I should collect enough recipes to start her recipe book. In these blogs, expect some of the recipes to be my mothers, some will be from El Burrito Mercado, and some my own (what I call my own but really it’s a collection from my husband’s family and what I’ve ‘picked up’ along the way). I realize there are folks at all levels of cooking experience, and the recipes will vary in difficulty but I assure you, each will be delightful and true to la Experiencia Mexicana!
This first recipe is inspired by the upcoming SUPERBOWL game that is only about two weeks away scheduled for Sunday, February 2- not that I am a football fan because I don’t understand the game(though I wish I did)! Yet, I love the Superbowl fan energy and it’s another excuse to eat, drink, and cheer for the exact opposite team my husband cheers for (whomever it will be!)
Are you wondering, do Mexicans watch Superbowl? Well amigos, I don’t know what percentage of Mexicans watch the big game?? (I smirk) But…. I know that the favorite football food is Mexican!
Millions of gallons of salsa and guacamole are consumed in that one day! According to Delish, for last years Superbowl, food must haves were Salsa, Chips & Guac at #1, and Nachos at #6! We are definitely Mexicanizing Superbowl eats! (website: http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/super-bowl-party-food-by-the-numbers)
So, I’m ‘kicking-off’ the recipe blogs with the elemental component of all Mexican meals: SALSA! Here it is, an easy, go-to, must have, roasted red salsa:
ROASTED TOMATO SALSA: yields approx 3cups
Ingredients
3-4 fresh jalapeño chiles (use serrano if you want it spicier)
2-3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/4 cup minced onion
5-7 small to medium roma tomatoes (or use about 2 cans 15-ounce can of diced (better if roasted) tomatoes)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro(optional)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt
1 tbsp olive oil
Directions (don’t forget to open a window and make sure the vent fan is on!)
1. Roast the tomatoes, chiles and garlic. In a small skillet over medium heat, heat oil and roast the tomatoes first, turning regularly until well charred on all sides about 15minutes, 10 minutes into roasting tomatoes, add chiles and garlic(with skin on), turning regularly, until they are soft and patched brown, about 5-10 minutes for the chiles, 10-15 minutes for the garlic. Cool until touchable, then remove the chile stems and chop a bit, peel the skin off the garlic. Place chiles, garlic, and onion into a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
2. Finalizing the salsa. Add the tomatoes. Re-cover and pulse until you have a coarse puree or desired consistency. Add lime juice, garnish with cilantro (optional). Taste and season with salt, about 1 teaspoon. Ready to serve! (feel free to add a couple tablespoons of water for a ‘juicier’ consistency)
A salsa like this is great for dipping with chips (try our All Natural Stoneground Corn Chips available at Cub Foods, Kowalski’s, Produce Exchange in Midtown Global Market) Make a not-so-spicy dip for kids, stir the salsa with sour cream for a mild and thicker salsa dip! Or, heat up the salsa in sauce pan and serve over huevos rancheros or your favorite pulled pork, beef or chicken, side with rice & beans for a complete Mexican meal.
There are tons of salsa recipes and variations, I find this one to be a great basic red salsa, and I love the roasted flavor. Are you a green salsa lover (like me?), want to offer two salsas at your superbowl party? Easy! Replace the small romas with ripe tomatillos, peel the husks and wash them, follow same procedures as the red salsa directions, be sure to add the cilantro!
Of course, all these ingredients can be found at El Burrito Mercado, and while you are there, grab avocados to make guacamole for your Superbowl fiesta! Plus a huge selection of other delicious snacks from Minnesota’s only full service Mexican deli- EL BURRITO MERCADO!
Need more Superbowl fiesta ideas? Please email me milissa@elburritomercado.comDoes this information seem accurate? What is a MUST food at your Superbowl party?
If you don’t think you’ll have time to make your own salsa for this Sunday, visit our deli and take a few flavors!
Milissa Silva 