Recipes

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Piloncillo, unrefined whole-cane sugar, is the key ingredient of these richly nuanced cookies. Known as piloncillo in Mexico; chancaca in Chile, Bolivia and Peru; or panela in other Latin American countries, it is commonly used in both sweet and savory dishes and is made by crushing, extracting and boiling down the juice from sugar cane to caramelize the sugars. It adds notes of caramel, butterscotch and molasses to everything from cakes to barbecue sauce. In this cookie, the grated piloncillo complements the bittersweet chocolate and mimics some of the nutty flavor of browned butter, but without any of the work. It is a bit of a chore to grate, but the flavor it adds is well worth it.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Chochoyotes, or corn masa dumplings, are commonly added to flavor and thicken soups and guisos (stews) across Mexico. They are also found in mole amarillo, the famous yellow mole from Oaxaca, and added to frijoles de olla because the corn flavor complements the regionally grown beans and herbs. In this soup, a summer vegetable medley, including fresh poblanos, corn and squash, is browned in olive oil to give the broth sweetness from the caramelized sugars in the vegetables. The chochoyotes slightly thicken the soup without any dairy or gluten added and contrast the flavor of the fresh, sweet corn.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

The joy of eating these doughnuts comes as much from the flavor of the apple and cinnamon in each bite as from the texture – the crunch of the sugar-glazed fried exterior and the soft, pillowy pull-apart pieces of a buttery, yeasted doughnut. One doughnut-shop secret to the perfect apple fritter: use a lot of cinnamon. It is going to seem like a mistake, but fried doughnuts (see Tip) require a lot more apple, cinnamon and salt for the flavor to punch through than if they were baked. The second trick, which achieves that crispy but melt in your mouth texture: chop the dough. It might seem a bit fussy but they don’t have to be exact cuts, you just need ½-inch pieces. The texture will be like monkey bread but in an amazing apple fritter doughnut.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Esquites are a Mexican antojito, or snack, sold in local markets and by street vendors across Mexico and the United States. Corn is typically cooked with an herb called epazote, onion and chiles and is served in cups or corn husks and topped with mayonnaise, dried chiles, queso and lime. Here, esquites amps up the corn flavor of a southern-style cornbread stuffing. Half of the corn mixture is added, along with chorizo, to toasted cornbread to make the stuffing, and the remaining esquites is used to top the finished dish. A drizzle of crema and a sprinkle of queso fresco and chile de árbol accent this fun and festive Thanksgiving side.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Originally, birria was developed as a way to tame tough and gamey goat meat by marinating it in a rich and spicy adobo sauce then slow cooking it until it was falling off the bones. The meat was shredded and served in bowls with the braising liquid (called consomé) ladled over top. The consomé-infused meat was put into tortillas with cilantro, onion and salsa and eaten with more consomé on the side or used as a dipping sauce. Because this recipe takes advantage of leftover turkey that is already cooked, the carcass is used to make a quick consomé flavored with canned fire roasted tomatoes, dried chiles and spices. Add the shredded turkey at the end to warm it up and let it soak up all the flavor. For the salsa, use leftover cranberry sauce; homemade or canned both work great. If using canned and you have a choice between whole-berry and jellied, choose the whole-berry sauce — the salsa will have even more texture.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

The iconic tacos al pastor (shepherd’s style tacos) — made and eaten across Mexico and in the US — are normally made with adobo-marinated pork steaks, flame-kissed on a vertical spit called a trompo and served with grilled pineapple and onion on corn tortillas. In this recipe, which takes advantage of leftover turkey, canned chipotles in adobo evoke the flavor of al pastor’s spicy adobo sauce, while the chipotles’ smokiness mimics the spit-roasted pork. Extra al pastor sauce can be used like a barbecue sauce to flavor cooked shredded meats like chicken or pork, or as a marinade for meat before cooking. For plant-based tacos, toss the sauce with roasted vegetables or brush over raw cauliflower, winter or summer squash, eggplant or mushrooms and roast or grill until charred and tender.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

The dreamy, moist dessert is surprisingly light and airy thanks to the chocolate sponge cake. Cocoa powder bloomed in hot coffee gives the cake a rich, deep chocolatey flavor. Traditionally, tres leches cakes are made with a vanilla cake soaked with condensed and evaporated milks and heavy cream or whole milk. In this lush chocolate version, we replaced the condensed milk with chocolate hazelnut spread and whisked that into evaporated and whole milks and heavy cream for a big hit of chocolate and hazelnut flavor. The cake gets finished with a delicious and light chocolate hazelnut whipped cream with chocolate sprinkles.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Tortitas are Mexican fritters that are great as an appetizer or as a meal served with a vegetable side or salad and are always enjoyed with a spicy hot salsa to dip and pour over. They can be made with whatever you like or have: mashed potatoes, shredded chicken, chorizo, sautéed mushrooms, squash, greens. They’re a great way to use up leftovers; just throw them in a bowl with eggs, cheese and flour or bread crumbs and fry them up. These spinach and cheese tortitas are incredibly comforting and come together fast enough for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Pineapples are grown all along the Pacific Mexican coast and are used in raw salsas as a condiment and in cooked salsas to give a sweet and tart counterpoint to spicy chiles and roasted meats and veggies. Pollo a la piña is a bright and savory dish with a smoky spicy kick from canned chipotle chiles in adobo and tropical sweetness from chopped pineapple and orange juice. This tender and juicy chicken makes a great taco filling. Or pile it on a bun with pickled jalapeños and shredded cabbage for a sweet, spicy and smoky sandwich reminiscent of the best BBQ but without firing up the grill.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Imagine a patty melt, but made at a diner in Mexico. Instead of plain ground beef, you might find a spicy and tangy chorizo patty smothered in a melted blanket of creamy, slightly aged queso chihuahua and topped with sweet and hot caramelized onions, poblanos and serranos. Imagine no more because here it is: a classic, unctuous patty melt reimagined with a Mexican twist. In this recipe, fresh chorizo links made patties that held their shape better than bulk sausage. If you can’t find chorizo links, see the note below for a quick substitute.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

In Mexican cooking, salpicón is a dish of fish, shellfish or meat mixed with chopped vegetables and tossed in an aromatic dressing. In the Yucatán, salpicones are flavored with sour orange juice and habaneros. In this version, quick-roasted fish fillets are tossed in lime and orange juice to mimic that tropical flavor. The fattiness of the fish and avocado tame the heat of the habaneros, but if you are sensitive to spice, use half of a habanero or look for habanadas, a chile that tastes just as sweet and floral as a habanero but with zero heat! You can serve this dish right away while the fish is still warm, or refrigerate the fish and pico de gallo separately for a few hours — the flavors only get better. Then mix together cold for parties, picnics or a day at the beach.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Eggs nestled in a spicy, smoky black bean sauce, huevos enfrijolados are a staple of Mexican home cooking. It’s a quick way to make a meal from what’s already in the kitchen: leftover frijoles de olla, chiles and fresh eggs. In this version, canned black beans are cooked with chipotles and garlic until rich and creamy, then eggs are gently dropped into the simmering beans to poach. Served with crunchy tostadas, queso fresco and avocado, it’s a deeply comforting, pantry-friendly meal that comes together in under 45 minutes — perfect for a weeknight dinner or a quick and hearty brunch.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

This plant-based take on a Mexican picadillo trades the traditional ground meat for a deeply savory mix of mushrooms, tofu and chickpeas, simmered with tangy tomatillos, poblano and scallions until everything melds into a rich, comforting hash. A box grater gives the tofu a ground meat-like texture that crisps beautifully in the pan, while the tomatillos add a tart freshness that keeps each bite lively and light. This weeknight-friendly dish is flavorful and deeply satisfying — especially when served alongside rice and beans or made into tacos or burritos. Make a double batch and freeze the leftovers: This is the kind of comfort food whose flavor gets better with time.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Rotisserie chicken can be a secret weapon when you’re busy. If you have a flavorful salsa on hand, just pull the meat and warm it in the salsa to make a quick tinga. A typical tinga has a guajillo salsa, but don’t let that limit you. A salsa verde, or any chipotle salsa, would be wonderful, and if you use aguacate ahumado salsa, it will create a rich, creamy sauce for the shredded chicken. Homemade bacon-y refried beans offer a comforting contrast.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

This fiery, minimalist salsa proves that even humble kitchen staples — like garlic powder and fresh jalapeños — can surprise you. Simmered until tender, then mashed by hand or blended to a coarse purée, the chiles become the perfect backdrop for garlic powder, which deepens as it sits, taking on a warm, almost toasty edge you’d never get from raw garlic. A short fermentation (if you let it) softens the salsa’s heat and introduces a subtle, tangy complexity (see Tip). It’s a salsa that evolves — bold on Day 1, balanced by Day 3 — making it perfect to spoon over pizza, tacos or anywhere you’d reach for a pickled chile.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Many salsas are fresh, raw and bright. But this pico de gallo turns a corner. A smoky corner. Finely chopped chipotles in adobo end up glazing the soft pieces of avocado, and it tastes deep and charred, even though it takes all of five minutes to make. It shouldn’t taste this good. But it does. Serve on sandwiches or tostadas, or with a bowl of plantain chips.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

In Mexico, huevos ahogados (“drowned eggs”) typically refers to eggs gently poached in a vibrant salsa. This version flips the idea into a speedy, satisfying breakfast (or weeknight dinner) by layering crisp-edged fried eggs over cheesy, broiled bolillo toasts and smothering them in a bright, spicy tomato salsa. It's a dish built for flexibility: Use just one serrano for a mild sauce or three for serious heat, and swap in Monterey Jack if you can’t find queso Chihuahua. Finished with creamy avocado and a sprinkle of cilantro, it’s rich, hearty and perfect for sopping up every last bit of salsa.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Atole is often thought of as a sweet, drinkable corn-based beverage, but in parts of Mexico, it also refers to this hearty, savory porridge made with masa harina and hominy. This version, inspired by the traditional atole de grano, is thick, creamy and deeply comforting — perfect for showcasing the variety of textures and flavors that different forms of corn can bring. Here, sweet corn kernels and chewy hominy add dimension to the velvety base, while a topping of roasted chicken and caramelized poblanos brings savory depth. A final flourish of lime, chicharrones and hot sauce adds brightness and crunch. Quick to come together and endlessly adaptable, this dish is a warm embrace in a bowl.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

This dish may not exist in Mexico, but its heart is unmistakably Mexican. It celebrates three beloved staples of the cuisine: corn masa, fiery salsa and Milanesa-style fried cutlets. Here, chicken cutlets are coated in a crisp, golden crust made from masa harina and crushed tortilla chips and pan-fried until deeply crunchy. A smoky, just-spicy-enough salsa made with tomatoes and chiles de árbol adds brightness and bite, while a shower of queso cotija brings the salty finish. It’s comfort food rooted in tradition, but reimagined for an easy weeknight meal.

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

Pastel Azteca, sometimes called budín Azteca, is a baked casserole, similar in structure to lasagna but made with corn tortillas instead of pasta. Softened with salsa and layered with chicken, roasted poblanos, corn, crema and cheese, it’s baked until bubbling and lightly crisp at the edges. It’s a very homey, comforting dish that is typically made to use up extra tortillas, salsa, roast chicken and vegetables. Every Mexican home has its own version shaped by region, budget and family tradition. Children grow up fiercely loyal to the version they were served and those recipes are passed down and adapted to suit their own families. The dish is warm, saucy and deeply comforting and is especially welcome in colder months, when the oven’s heat warms the house and fills it with the aroma of toasted tortillas, roasted chicken and melting cheese. This version features a smoky ancho and chipotle salsa that seeps into each layer, keeping the casserole tender and flavorful, but you can use this

Rick A. Martínez · NYT Cooking

In Mexico, the bolillo is the daily bread you pick up on the way home, still warm from the panadería. It’s commonly used as the base of a torta, split and sandwiched with meat (like milanesa, carnitas or jamón), beans, avocado, pickled jalapeños and salsa. At breakfast, it’s toasted for open-faced molletes, topped with refried beans, melted cheese and salsa. In northern Mexico and along the border, bolillos often replace hot dog buns, especially for Sonoran-style hot dogs, wrapped in bacon and piled with beans, crema, mustard and salsa. Its flavor is neutral, its crumb tight but soft and sturdy enough to hold heavy, wet fillings yet tender enough to compress when bitten. Deeply golden with a slightly crisp crust, these bolillos have a soft interior designed to revientar, or spring cleanly when cut. Butter or oil is brushed directly into the score in the top, allowing the loaf to expand down the center, producing the classic panadería-style submarine-like shape.

Richard Flaste · NYT Cooking

Richard Flaste · NYT Cooking

Richard Flaste · NYT Cooking