No matter where in the world Mexican restaurants are located, they always provide customers with a cultural experience. Colorful decor and traditional music evoke a certain atmosphere, while the food provides the distinct flavors of Mexican cuisine. Restaurant owners who are looking for wholesale Mexican food in New York City should make sure to stock their shelves with the following staple ingredients.
Avocados have been a staple of the Mexican diet since the days of the Aztec empire. The Aztecs made the first guacamole from the indigenous fruit by crushing it with a mortar and pestle. Avocados show up in many dishes; they’re served sliced as a side dish or garnish, they’re layered into to sandwiches, and they’re tossed into soup. Guacamole, of course, is still a popular salad, usually made nowadays with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime.
Beans were another staple of the Aztec diet due to their high protein and ease of cultivation. In modern restaurants, they are served as a vegetarian option for tacos and burritos, and they’re also a popular side dish with fajitas and other dinners. Pinto beans are the most popular beans in Mexican restaurants, though black beans are also frequently served.
No Mexican table is complete without tortillas, both flour and corn. The earliest tortillas that the Aztecs ate were made of corn, and corn tortillas are still used more often than flour. Both types serve as ingredients in many popular dishes, like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, but they are also served as an accompaniment to any meal.
Chipotles are currently the most popular chiles used in Mexican cooking. They are actually jalapeno peppers that have been smoked and dried in a method devised by the Aztecs due to the peppers’ thick skin and tendency to go bad quickly. Nowadays, they are ground up into salsas and adobo, which is a marinade for meat. When used whole, they need to be slow-cooked.
Suppliers of Wholesale Mexican Food in New York City may offer more than food. Look for suppliers who sell Jarritos, the number one soda in Mexico, along with aguas frescas. Click here for more information about the best ingredients in Mexican cooking.