I’ve always felt the best part of traveling was being able to try the original foods, most of which I ended up loving. I’d take a few notes and then try to recreate them at home, usually successfully. And when my son and I moved to Baja, Mexico, that’s exactly what I did. Today, we are starting an expat journey to spicy breakfast delicacies made in Mexico.
Growing up in Southern California, I thought I knew everything about preparing Mexican foods, as there’s a large Hispanic population living there, and I had many friends who taught me how to make the most difficult dishes that I loved. These mildly spicy breakfasts are almost as easy to make as frying an egg – or scrambling one!
Spicy Breakfast: Huevos Rancheros with Salsa & Avocados
Huevos Rancheros translates to fried Ranch Eggs, usually homegrown in Mexico, on a flat corn or flour tortilla, with salsa to dip a forkful into, or covered with warm enchilada sauce.
Salt and peppered to taste, with sliced avocados (as pictured), or mango slices, but always served in restaurants with a traditional side of seasoned rice and beans.
Spicy Breakfast: Ham, Cheese, & Scrambled Egg Quesadillas
Quesadillas are generally made with chicken or beef and cheese, the latter which is the adhesive to hold meat and salsa within the tortillas. Heat the tortillas.
For breakfast, scramble ham and eggs, tomatoes, peppers, and cheese, place between two flour tortillas, press, and cut into small pizza pie shapes.
Finger foods at their finest! Serve with salsa to dip, or black beans to scoop, as I have pictured here.
Spicy Breakfast: Spicy Pepper Cheese & Chorizo Egg Strata
Did you know it takes most of the day to make Chili Rellenos with sauce, or tamales from scratch? So, we always saved them for special occasions. I gradually came up with an easier, albeit authentic, Mexican brunch dish for holiday crowds expecting a lavish Mexican buffet.
Precook spicy chorizo (Mexican sausage) and add along with chunks of cheddar cheese, over bread cubes, covering the full 9″ by 13″ baking dish, as called for in every Egg Strata recipe. Beat a dozen eggs, season with salt and pepper, pour over all ingredients, garnish with strips of sweet red peppers, and bake in a preheated oven for half an hour at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Allow to cool, and slice into serving portions. Side dishes can include warm flour or corn tortillas, pineapple slices, avocado with tomato salad on a bed of lettuce, plus the traditional seasoned rice and beans to round out your meal.
Spicy Breakfast: Bacon & Scrambled Eggs Breakfast Burrito
Wrap your scrambled eggs and bacon (or ham) into a flour tortilla for an expat’s breakfast on the go.
Add salsa, avocado slices, or beans, as we have, and anything else you’d like to spice up your busy morning, within a breakfast burrito.
But we won’t stop there, will we? Check out my article There’s No Food Fiesta Without Tacos! coz what could be better after a spicy breakfast than a Taco Party?
But back to the best meal of the day: what is your family’s favorite traditional breakfast where you’ve landed? Please share it with us!
by: Cheri Majors, M.S.
