Even though Cinco de Mayo isn’t an official holiday, it doesn’t mean we can’t be reminded to avail ourselves of our fave Mexican (and Tex-Mex) indulgences.
Well, well, well, my friends, it’s that time of year again when we pretend to know what Cinco de Mayo commemorates while stuffing our faces with outrageously delicious Mexican food and drinking tequila like it’s water.
For the record: it celebrates Mexico’s impressive victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War on May 5, 1862.
This year, I say we raise a margarita (or four) to salute Mexico’s win and then dive into some of our best Mexican recipes. From classic guacamole and salsa to some funky fresh twists on traditional dishes, these recipes will help ease you into the weekend (Cinco de Mayo is on a Friday) and make it one to remember. Depending on how much you drink, maybe not!
I have made this margarita recipe a few times now. It definitely is the best margarita recipe. I’ve only used simple syrup and not agave.
I love that I don’t need the sticky, cloying Cointreau with even more calories. This is a keeper and the only one I’ll use going forward.–Sagar M.
This chicken enchiladas recipe is fabulous. Unfortunately, I gave some to my family, and now they request them ALL the time. I make a batch for me and one for them to share.
The green sauce is incredible. As another reviewer suggested, I added jalapeños to spice it up. Highly recommended.–Zilma
This is probably the best salsa I’ve ever tried.–Kristin S.
I had this carnitas recipe at a friend’s house, and it was wonderfully tasty. In particular, the tomatillo salsa added so much popping flavor my tastebuds were cheering. I can see making the dish with any meat or making it a vegetarian meal. Really satisfying in every way.–Lesley M.
Cinco de Mayo Food FAQs
What is traditionally served at a Cinco de Mayo meal?
A typical American celebration of Cinco de Mayo will include margaritas and tacos. However, in Mexico, you’ll find classic Mexican dishes, such as carnitas, mole poblano, or barbacoa made with lamb.
How can I accommodate vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free guests at my Cinco de Mayo party?
Tortilla chips with salsa and homemade guacamole are excellent options and are suitable for most diets. You can also serve a variety of enchiladas, including black bean or these sweet potato enchiladas, which are vegan and can be made gluten-free.
What should I serve for dessert on Cinco de Mayo?
Churros are a fantastic handheld dessert option, and you could serve them with a mug of Mexican hot chocolate for dipping. For a more formal take, try this tres leches cake–a popular dessert in Mexico, for good reason.
What are you serving at your Cinco de Mayo celebrations? Will you be noshing on Tex-Mex fare, such as tacos, burritos, and nachos, or are you indulging in traditional Mexican food? Let me know in a comment below.
9 Recipes for Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
Equipment
- Piping bag fitted with 1/4-inch (6-mm) star-shaped tip or a resealable plastic bag with one corner snipped off
Ingredients
For the churros
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 extra-large egg
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Mild vegetable oil for frying
To serve (optional)
- Store-bought or homemade caramel sauce or hot chocolate
Directions
Make the churros
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, butter, salt, and 1 tablespoon sugar and bring to a boil.
- Add the flour to the pan all at once and cook, stirring vigorously, until stiff but smooth, about 4 minutes. (Enjoy the biceps workout while you’re at it!) Transfer the dough to a bowl and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
- Whisk in the egg until the dough is very smooth.
- Fill the prepared piping bag or resealable plastic bag with the dough. The 1/4-inch [6-mm] star-shaped tip may look too small, but trust us, the dough will swell when it fries and the star-shape will leave nice ridges on your churros. (You can refrigerate the dough in the piping bag overnight if you like. Bring the chilled dough to room temperature before using so it will squeeze more easily.)
- Mix the cinnamon and 3 tablespoons sugar on a large plate.
- In a large, heavy saucepan, pour enough oil to reach a depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm). Place the saucepan over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F (180°C) on an instant-read thermometer. The oil is ready when a small drop of dough sizzles and falls to the bottom of the saucepan only to immediately rise to the top again.
- Working carefully, hold the piping bag over the hot oil, squeeze out a few 6-inch (15-cm) lengths of churros dough, cut it off with clean scissors, and fry, turning once, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Don’t overcook or the churros will lose the creamy interior that makes them so irresistible. (This particular churros recipe is designed to have more crunch and less cake-like interior.) Fry the churros in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.
- Use tongs to move the fried churros to paper towels or a brown paper bag to drain briefly. Toss the warm churros in the cinnamon sugar while still hot and turn to completely coat them.
Serve
- Serve immediately, with warm caramel sauce or hot chocolate for dipping, if desired.
Notes
Show Nutrition
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Can you pipe churro dough onto separate pieces of parchment and the drop into oil?
Absolutely! Just be careful when lowering toward oil parchment-side up. Then immediately peel the parchment off with a set of tongs.
This method is commonly used, including when dropping bagels into their very hot soda-water bath. Just be sure to have all your parchment pre-cut. I hope this helps!
Thanks, Terry!
We haven’t tried this, Peter, so I’m not sure if it would work. You might need to spray your parchment with baking spray to make sure that they slide right off.