Food Glossay - A helpful guide to
your local dining 
Cheese
Asadero Soft,
braided mozzarella-like cheese
Cabrales Mexican
goat cheese
Chihuahua Similar to muenster,
used in the flameado
Cotijia Aged
cheese similar to parmesan
Queso anejo Aged queso fresco with dry salty
texture
Queso fresco Crumbly, soft cheese with mild acidity
Peppers and Chilies
Ancho Medium
to hot dried ripe poblano
Chilaca Medium
to hot, thin, dark-skinned chile
Chili de arbol Very hot, orange-red, dried chile
Chili piquin Small, very hot
dried or pickled orange-red chile
Chipotle Smoked,
fairly hot jalapeno
Guajillo Hot
to very hot deep maroon, dried chile
Pasilla Hot
to very hot dried chilaca or negro chile
Piquillo Sweet,
red Spanish pepper shaped like a small ancho
Poblano Mild
to hot, black-green pepper
Rajas Strips
of roasted or charred & peeled peppers
Serrano Small,
hot peppers similar to jalapeno
Sauces, Foods, Terms, Etc
Achiote Red
paste from Yucatan, achiote seed, oregano & allspice
Carnitas Small
chunks of browned pork
Ceviche Citrus
marinated fish or shellfish
Chilaquiles Fried tortilla dish
mixed with sauces & other ingredients
Chile Relleno Stuffed chile peeled, battered or
roasted
Chimichurri Condiment made of
cilantro, garlic, olive oil, peppers & spices
Chorizo saus. Spanish smoked pork sausage (paprika, garlic,
cayenne)
Churros Fried
pastry dough dusted with sugar & cinnamon
Cilantro Herb
from coriander leaves
Cochinita Yucatan
BBQ pork
Crema Mexican
variation of crème fraiche
Empanadas Fried turnover made with
masa
Enchiladas Corn tortilla dish
filled, rolled & covered with sauce
Epazote Common
Yucatan herbs, bitter with hints of lemon
Flan Baked
custard with vanilla & caramel flavors
Flautas Stuffed,
fried tubular shaped taco
Frito Fried
Jicama Crip,
sweet root vegetable
Masa Dough
made with flour & water
Mole Rich
sauce (almonds, dry fruit, chiles, chocolate, herbs)
Pibil Yucatan
style BBQ with achiote paste
Pico de gallo Salsa made from jalapeno, garlic,
onion, tomatoes, lime
Pipian Pumpkin
seed sauce, red or green
Queso Flameado Baked
cheese with chiles
Tamales Stuffed
masa dough wrapped & steamed in corn husks
Tomatillo Small,
tart fruit used in sauces & salsas
Tinga Browned
shredded chicken, chipotles & tomatoes