Appetizers, as the name suggests are small and simple food items which are normally served before the main meal. They are primarily targeted to keep the guests on hold when the main dish is supposed to be served quite late after their arrival. Appetizers are specially made to calm down the appetite of guests for the time being, but they are not heavy enough to fill the stomachs completely. Sometimes appetizers are the only food items served at cocktail parties. Among all the appetizers, Mexican appetizers are probably the most famous appetizers in the whole world. Mexico is one of those countries which has a wide array of appetizers. Ranging from spicy and tangy salsa to crunchy tostadas, the Mexicans have it all in their list to quaint your taste for appetizers.
1. Mini Corn Salsa Tostadas:
Tostadas are one of Mexicoâs most famous and sought after appetizers. They are small and just perfect to be served as appetizers. Tostada is a Spanish word for toasted. Tostadas are small, round, thin and crispy appetizers, which are mainly made of corn tortillas and they appear as mini fried tortillas. Tostadas are also sometimes termed as nachos in Tex-Mex cuisine. These are primarily made when the tortillas become too stale to be folded into tacos. They are cut into small pieces and are then fried in a pool of boiling oil until they turn very crispy. These crunchy appetizers are very versatile, as they provide the option of altering and changing the toppings according to different tastes. Tostadas can be topped with many kinds of vegetarian as well as non vegetarian toppings, but corn salsa topping is one of the favourite among other toppings.
2. Zesty Salsa:
A Mexican necessity, salsa is mainly an uncooked sauce that is almost compulsorily served with tostadas, steak, tacos, fajitas, chimichangas and even with pinto beans. Salsa is a type of sauce, which has many variations to it and can be prepared in a variety of different ways. But among all of those salsas, the Pico de Gallo or the tomato, onion and chili salsa is the most famous recipe. This dish can be either made of canned tomatoes or even freshly chopped tomatoes. So, serve a bowl of salsa with nachos and see it disappear in the blink of an eye.
3. Mini Beef Chimichangas:
Chimichangas are fried appetizers which are very popular in the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa. Chimichangas are primarily deep fried burritos that are also sometimes popularly known as chivichanga or chimmy chongas. Chimichangas, available in the United States of America, are mainly of the same size as a burrito, but mini chimichangas are only available in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Chimichangas are famous Mexican appetizers which are mostly filled with shredded beef, chicken, cheese, rice or machaca. Serve these cute little beef chimichangas with salsa, guacamole or sour cream and they can be a really nice addition to your dinner partyâs appetizers list.
4. Chicken Quesadillas:
Quesadillas are yet another easy to make and quick Mexican appetizer. These are also a type of filled tortilla, which are served by folding them in half. It really seems that Mexicanâs canât resist their tortillas and salsa and as a result, they include these two things in their every recipe. Quesadillas are really tasty appetizers that will make your guests crave for more. Quesadillas are filled with a variety of vegetables, meat, sea foods and different types of cheese; and normally corn or flour tortillas are chosen to make these delicious quesadillas. Quesadillas are normally made of masa flour, which is actually a type of limewater treated maize flour. The soft tortillas are filled with Chihuahua cheese, shredded meat, chicken, and vegetables, and are then folded over to get the shape. They are then either grilled or fried in hot oil to get the desired taste.
5. Chicken Taco Cups:
Taco is again a very traditional Mexican finger food. Tacos are filled with chicken, beef, vegetables, cheese or sea foods and are then either folded over or moulded into small cups to hold the filling. Tacos are basically made of corn or flour tortillas and are commonly served with guacamole, salsa, cilantro, sour cream or lettuce. Normal tacos are half moon shaped folded over tortillas which are initially fried and then filled with the desired fillings. But taco cups are specially folded tortillas, which are moulded in the shape of small cups to fit in the fillings. Chicken is a popular option for filling taco cups and these are definitely lip smacking finger foods.
