Authentic Mexican Food vs. TexMex: What’s the difference?
Mexican cuisine dates back centuries with its roots from Mayan Culture. The simple dishes were dependent upon the availability of ingredients that were plentiful and affordable. Most of the traditional dishes retained their authenticity and are loved by people throughout the country. The twentieth century brought a change to the way Mexican food is now perceived. Tex-Mex was created in Texas and is specific to that region. As a result, many of the traditional, authentic dishes have evolved into a similar, but distinct cuisine all its own. Benito’s pays homage to the authentic Mexican roots and takes pride in offering authentic Mexican fare.
Authentic Mexican Food Humble Beginnings
Authentic Mexican dishes were prepared with ingredients such as corn, beans, rice and squash. The mild Meican climate was also conducive to growing avocados, a staple used in many authentic dishes. The meats used in most authentic Mexican cooking derived from the abundance and variety of beef, lamb and chickens raised in the area. Coastal areas took advantage of the plentiful seafood in their traditional dishes. Each specific region has its own version of authentic Mexican dishes that remain the traditions. Authentic dishes typically have fewer calories than are found in Tex-Mex dishes.
Contribution by the Tejano Culture
Texas is a large state with an equally broad and diverse history. The Tejano culture is responsible for what is known today as Tex-Mex food. Mexican immigrants migrated to Texas and planted roots long before Texas became a republic. Many of these with Mexican and Spanish heritage developed their own version of the flavorful dishes that are uniquely Mexican. While Texas claims the development of the Tex-Mex cuisine that has spread across the country, it represents a small region of the country.
Tex-Mex Popularity
Many fast-food restaurants throughout the United States offer some form of Tex-Mex food such as tacos and enchiladas. Restaurants that specialize in Tex-Mex serve dishes that rely on a lot of meat, cheese, beans and sour cream. The sauces are heavier and account for most of the calories in Mexican foods.
The traditional Tex-Mex taco, found in most restaurants, is usually made from ground beef that has been seasoned with chili powder and bold spices. The meat is placed inside a hard taco shell along with chopped tomatoes and lettuce and topped with shredded cheese. They are usually offered with a taco sauce for extra flavor. Burritos are large flour tortillas filled with chopped or shredded beef or pork and served with guacamole and sour cream. Unlike authentic tacos that are made with white cheese, Tex-Mex tacos use yellow cheese such as American or cheddar.
The Uniqueness of Authentic Mexican Cuisine
Even though Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican cuisine share similar characteristics, there are distinct differences in ingredient use and traditions. Benito’s serves only the finest authentic dishes and offers outstanding service. Breakfast, lunch and dinner offer diners a wide variety of well-prepared dishes made from scratch from old family recipes.
If your mouth is watering Call us at (817) 332-8633 today to experience some of these authentic Mexican dishes for yourself!
