You don’t have to make a reservation at a restaurant or wait in a long line among the crowd-packed streets to enjoy a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Instead, stay in this Cinco de Mayo, and celebrate at home with Mexican-inspired recipes and complimenting margaritas that’ll keep you from missing out on all the fiesta fun. Get ready to have your kitchen table full of tacos, enchiladas, and enough margaritas to keep you drinking till the sun comes up.
Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole
James Beard Award-Winner Cheryl Alters Jamison does not mess around when it comes to making a Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole. She stuffs crispy tortillas with shredded chicken, plenty of cheese, fresh onion, and of course, flavorful green chiles. You may just never go back to making enchiladas the traditional way again.
Eva Longoria Inspired Tacos de Lengua
Tacos de Lengua, or tacos made with beef tongue, might not be your go-to, but they’re certainly a juicy, savory surprise for Cinco de Mayo. The meat is slow-cooked with an abundance of spices that warms the soul and invigorates the taste buds. You’ll also want to keep the toppings simple for these tacos to really let the flavor of the beef tongue take you away to Mexico.
Crispy Cauliflower Tacos
With the use of the right seasonings, Crispy Cauliflower can be even better than a basic ground beef taco. For our recipe, we’re using chili powder, garlic, cumin powder, black beans, and fresh pineapple salsa for a succulent bite that’ll stay with you even after the tacos are long gone.
Carmella Padilla’s Red Chile and Blue Corn Enchiladas
If you’re a lover of traditional enchiladas, Carmella Padilla’s Red Chile and Blue Corn ones are as authentic as it gets. Though, Carmella does use the same flat — rather than rolled — tortilla technique that her 100-year-old mother taught her. Her enchiladas are topped with a secret red chile sauce that you can make at home to upgrade this dish to perfection.
Pork Belly Tacos
Tender pork belly, with its marbled fat, brings an incredible richness to a basic taco. We combine this protein with oyster mushrooms and a sweet and spicy pajeori sauce to compliment the scallions. Think of this Pork Belly Taco recipe as a Korean-Mexican fusion, bringing together two beloved cuisines into one delicious dish.
Margarita, A Cocktail for Cancer
Start off with a classic Margarita that you’ll find at most Mexican restaurants if you’re fixing for a Cinco de Mayo drink. Using the simple ingredients of El Tosoro Blanco tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, and simple syrup yields a drink that’ll take you back to Saturday night House Margarita specials (but hopefully without the hangover the next day).
Prickly Pear Margarita
Liquid Alchemist Prickly Pear is the key to this refreshing and slightly acidic delight. It’s also best to use an unaged agave or Blanco tequila with this recipe to bring out citrus undertones and produce a clear and crisp finish. Plus, we just cannot get over the gorgeous purple tone you’ll get from our Prickly Pear Margarita.
Campo Lavender Margarita
How would you like a margarita with a botanical twist? While lavender simple syrup can, at times, completely take over a flavor profile, we make sure to keep the botanicals light with the addition of orange liqueur, lemon, and lime juice to balance things out. The Campo Lavender Margarita is excellent for those who want to join in on the margarita fun, but aren’t big on the taste of tequila.
Marigold Margarita
There’s something special about Reposado Tequila. With its oak-barrel aging process of two to 12 months before bottling, it comes out with golden oaky notes and a slightly tart finish. Which makes it all the better for our Marigold Margarita. Topped with Elderflower liqueur and grapefruit juice, this margarita is the definition of going for the gold.
Pineapple Habanero Margarita
Want to add a bit of spice to your Cinco de Mayo celebration? Then let our Pineapple Habanero Margarita bring the heat. It’s made with Cimarron Reposado, pineapple juice, lime juice, and a homemade habanero simple syrup that you can use in other cocktail recipes. You can even experiment with a Hawaiian black salt in addition to candied habanero rim for some extra goodness.
Spicy Orange NA-rgarita
Those abstaining from alcohol for any amount of time or reason can take part in the Cinco de Mayo activities, too, thanks to our Spicy Orange NA-rgarita. Spicy agave syrup and bursts of orange go hand in hand to create this memorable mocktail. It’s perfect for those times you’re craving the taste of a margarita without the burn.
Story by Kylie Thomas
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