15 Best Mexican Appetizers
Are you looking for the best Mexican appetizers?
Just when you thought Mexican cuisine couldn’t get any better, they also have these light and flavorful mini-meals that can either serve as starters or snacks to eat with your margarita or tequila. What do you eat before diving into that platter of discada or enchilada in Mexico? There are plenty to choose from.
Here are 15 of the tastiest Mexican appetizers that you may want to try.
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15 Best Mexican Appetizers
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1. Aguachile
Aguachile, a Mexican dish from Sinaloa, is a light, savory appetizer made with fresh shrimp, cucumber, red onion, lime juice, and water-pulverized chilis. The shrimp must be as fresh as possible because aguachile is served right away after the lime juice has been applied to the shrimp.
This appetizer is often served with avocados and tostadas. It goes well with beer or tequila if you are planning to serve it during a party or order it from a bar.
2. Antojitos
Antojitos (Mexican appetizers) are a type of Mexican snack. Vendors in open-air markets or on the streets of Mexico sell them the most, and a perfect starter while you wait for a heavier meal.
There are a lot of antojitos that are produced with maize tortillas or cornmeal as the main ingredient. You may make an antojito with cheese, peppers, onions, and seasonings all mixed in a soft tortilla shell. Antojitos are best served with sour cream and salsa, which make them extra tasty.
3. Caesar Salad
Who would have thought that this iconic salad has Mexican origins? This light and fresh appetizer were named after Cesare Cardini, an Italian immigrant who lived in San Diego but owned a restaurant in Tijuana, just south of the Mexican border, to escape Prohibition rules.
Even during prohibition in the 1920s, many Californians would drive over to Tijuana to party and have a wonderful time with the Hollywood elite. Caesar salad, like many other well-known dishes, was the result of a chef’s whims and improvisations. Today, it’s one of the popular Mexican appetizers that are also known across the globe.
4. Camarones a la diabla
This is another Mexican appetizer made with shrimp, which chili-lovers would love.
The deviled shrimp or Diabla Camarones is made with shrimp smothered in a brilliant red chile pepper sauce. It’s hot, tasty, and extremely addictive.
The sauce used in the Diabla Camarones is made of spicy peppers that are pureed with the other sauce ingredients (tomatoes, garlic, onions, salt) using a food processor. The shrimp is then cooked in the sauce until the sauce is boiling and served immediately. The spicy shrimp is best accompanied by crusty bread or warm corn tortillas.
5. Ceviche de Sierra
Ceviche de Sierra originated in the coastal region around Mazatlán, with fresh mackerel as the main ingredient. This classic Mexican style of ceviche is an appetizer you must try if you’re in a Mexican beach town or resort.
To.make this yummy appetizer, finely chop the fish then marinate it in juice and salt. Then add chopped carrots, onions, cucumbers, serrano peppers, and oregano before serving. You may also add sliced avocados or tomatoes for a fresh burst of flavor.
6. Chalupa
The chulapa is a crispy and flavorful Mexicans appetizer that is made with fried masa (corn dough) and stuffed with meat or vegetable fillings. A Spanish word for shallop (or a small sailboat) influenced the concave design of this Masa snack.
A variety of ingredients, such as chicken or pork chops, chorizo, and ground beef, can be used to fill the chulapa. You can use toppings such as sour cream, cheddar cheese, or even tomatoes to enhance the flavor of this appetizer.
7. Charales
There are many varieties of charales in Mexico, but the most popular are the deep-fried, minnow size Charales. Charales can be used as a taco filling or as an appetizer, however, they are more commonly served as a snack or an appetizer.
Charales are also popular during Lent, when they are fried with nopales, green salsa, and wild herbs in a dried version. They are often drizzled with salt, chili, and lime juice when served.
8. Chicharrones de Harina
Traditionally a street cuisine in Mexico, harina chicharrones are Mexican pinwheel chips that can also be served as a light appetizer before a heavier dinner. These Mexican pinwheel chips are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser because of their unique appearance, crunchy texture, and intriguing flavor.
Make Mexican pinwheel chips more appetizing by sprinkling them with a variety of spices. For unique but still Mexican chicharrones, we suggest drizzling them with some fresh lime juice.
9. Chipotle Black Bean Soup
If you. prefer a hearty and warm Mexican appetizer, try this delicious chipotle black bean soup to start your meal. This sou is comfort food at its finest, simple to make, but it packs a tasty punch.
The good thing about chipotle black bean soup is that you don’t have to worry about ruining the flavor balance by adjusting the level of heat. Chipotle black bean soup, whether spicy or not, is still a flavor bomb.
10. Elote
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill grilled corn dish. Elote has a distinct flavor like no other, thanks to the mayo, cheese, and chili powder that top it off.
Mayonnaise and corn sound like an odd pairing at first, but they work very well together. Everything about this dish is mouth-wateringly delicious, from the sweet and tangy to the rich and spicy.
The elote is also quite simple to put together. Once the corn has been grilled, simply spread mayonnaise on the cob and sprinkle it with chilli powder and cilantro.
11. Flauta
This is another interesting Mexican appetizer that uses ingredients that are in other Mexican treats as well. Flautas may be made in a matter of minutes by putting meat and cheese in a tortilla, securing it, and frying it.
Even though the recipe isn’t particularly unique, it always turns out perfectly.
In addition to crisping up the tortilla, frying the cheese also softens it to gooey perfection. I can’t bring myself to stop at just one.
12. Jicama Fries
Imagine adding a little sugar to your fries, and you’ll get what jicama fries taste like. This tasty Mexican appetizer is cooked like conventional potato fries, only with a slightly sweeter flavor.
In Mexican cooking, jicama is a commonly used root vegetable. Unlike potatoes, they cook evenly and crisply all the way through. You may eat these fries alone or with ranch dressing. Be prepared for them to vanish in a matter of minutes! It’s impossible not to get hooked on this snack.
13. Nachos Supreme
Probably one of the most popular Mexican appetizers on this list, the Nacho Supreme is also the ultimate comfort food. It is made with crispy corn chips, flavorful meat, gooey cheese, beans, and colorful vegetables.
This appetizer was invented in 1943 by Ignacio “El Nacho” Anaya, who worked at the Victory Club restaurant. One time, he was forced to offer a group of clients something to eat soon before closing time.
A quick search of the kitchen yielded nothing but cheese, tortillas (fried to crisp), and pickled jalapenos. He didn’t want to disappoint the guests so quickly put together what he had. He called his concoction “Nacho’s Especiales”, and the rest is history.
14. Queso fundido
If you’re looking for an appetizer in Mexico, you’ll find queso flameado (the flambéed version produced with liquor). Cheese and chorizo, smoked and spicy sausage, are the most common ingredients in queso fundido.
There are many ways to serve this appetizer but the most common is to serve it flambéed. This version is called queso flameado which is popular at cookouts and restaurants. This dish is also often compared to the fondue and raclette.
15. Taquito
Táquitos, also known as tacos dorados, or rolled tacos, are small wrapped-up tortillas that often include meat, cheese, or chicken fillings, and are popular Mexican appetizers. They are crisp-fried or deep-fried and served with sour cream and guacamole as toppings or dip.
Flautas are often compared to taquitos as they are similar in texture and flavor. The flauta, however, is made from a huge flour tortilla, about the size of a burrito or a quesadilla. The maize tortilla used to make taquitos is about the size of then. ones used in fajitas or small quesadillas.
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