Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) is a Mexican holiday celebrating a battle in which Mexico defeated French invaders in 1862's Battle of Puebla. On Cinco de Mayo, Mexicans celebrate their culture through food, music, parades and festivals. Increasingly, Americans are celebrating Cinco de Mayo in a similar fashion to the celebration of St. Patrick's Day and Oktoberfest as recognizing an important culture that many Americans have origins from. Many people simply go to a Mexican restaurant, while several cities have Cinco de Mayo festivals or parades.

See Mahalo's Guide to Mexican Food for more Cinco de Mayo Recipe ideas.

Having a Mexican-themed party is one way people celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Here are a few ideas to help you. Try these with tortilla chips.

1. Guacamole made from avocados
2. Salsa, a sauce using tomato as a base
3. Pico de Gallo, a dip made from fresh tomatoes, onions and cilantro
4. 7 Layer Dip

Here are a number of different ideas for main dishes. You can fill tacos and burritos with a variety of fillings, from cilantro-lime marinated fish, to taco meat, carnitas or adobo chicken. If you're having a buffet, you can put the ingredients out and allow your guests to assemble their own! Make sure to have some sour cream on hand--sold as "table cream" in Mexican markets or in the Mexican part of the dairy section. Also have on hand some shredded cheese, such as Monterey Jack or Queso Asadero, to be more authentic.

1. Tacos
2. Burritos
3. Chimichanga, which is like a deep-fried taco
4. Fajitas

Traditional Mexican drinks go beyond Cuervo and Margaritas. There are even fun drinks for kids that are packed with nutrients as well as flavor. Try serving some of these:

1. Aqua Fresca, a refreshing drink made from fruits, usually, but also nuts, seeds or grains, steeped in water and served ice-cold.
2. Horchata, a type of Agua Fresca that can be made from several types of ground nuts, seeds and even rice. It's similar to a flavorful, sweet rice milk. Cinnamon and chocolate are common flavorings, as is vanilla. In Mexico, horchata is almost always made from rice and flavored with cinnamon, but in other Spanish-speaking countries around the world, it's made other ways.
3. Jarritos bottled fruit soda, which is similar to the aqua fresca sold by street vendors in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries around the world.
4. Margaritas
5. Beer