Mexican Casserole - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

Where did the Mexican casserole come from? ›

The first version of a Mexican casserole seems to have been the muk-bil (literally, “to put in the ground”). Made by the Mayans on the Yucatan Peninsula since pre-Hispanic times, it is the King Kong of tamales.

Fresh herbs or citrus zest can also punch up flavors with a bit of welcome brightness for a long-cooked dish, as can adding some heat in the form of a dash of hot sauce, a generous pinch of minced or sliced fresh chili pepper, or a shake of red pepper flakes.

If you want to freeze the casserole and reheat

Pre-bake the casserole as instructed above, then cool to room temperature and cover tightly with foil. Freeze for up to 1 month, then reheat in a 350 F oven for 1 hour. Uncover and bake for 30 minutes more, until completely warmed through and browned on top.

Tacos. It's the most popular Mexican dish globally. Usually served with fillings like steak, chorizo, offal, etc.

So what's inside? Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese.

Add fresh chilli and coriander to a simple casserole to spice it up. Always add hardy, fresh herbs such as bay leaves and rosemary at the beginning of cooking, and throw in lighter herbs, such as parsley and tarragon, at the end so they keep their flavour.

Casseroles can really shine when they achieve a harmonious balance of flavors. Sweet, salty, spicy, and acidic elements should blend well and complement each other. Add ingredients like caramelized onions, olives, or lemon zest to give your casserole a depth of flavor.

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

Soft vegetables like broccoli can be quickly par-cooked (aka blanched). If you are using hard vegetables like potatoes or carrots or other hardy root vegetables, you'll want to par-cook for longer. Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start.

Thaw Before Cooking

Whether you pre-cook the casserole or not, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking it in the oven for the best results. You can place the casserole into a dish in the fridge for up to 36 hours to allow it to thaw and then proceed to follow the dish's original cooking instructions.

Yes, you sure can. That's why I like to get these breakfast bakes prepared as much as possible and get them frozen. Then the egg and meat cooking mess are done ahead of time.

Yes. It is safe to reheat frozen leftovers without thawing, either in a saucepan or microwave (in the case of a soup or stew) or in the oven or microwave (for example, casseroles and combination meals).

The history of Mexican food can be traced back over two thousand years, where it finds its roots in Mesoamerican cuisine. Both the Mayans and Aztecs had strong influences on the methods of cooking and the dishes that are still seen throughout Mexico.

Although their name comes from the French word for saucepan, casseroles feel distinctly American, routed in a love for comfort food and often shaped by a desire for easy, tasty home-cooked meals. Here's everything you need to know about casseroles and cooking them, along with great recipes for all kinds of occasions.

Fajitas were invented in the USA by Mexicans that were working on ranches in Texas. This was in the 1940s. Fajitas can be considered part of the genre of Mexican cuisine, but known more as Tex-Mex, or northern Mexican cuisine.

Casserole is from a French word meaning "sauce-pan"; a large, deep dish used either to cook something in an oven or to serve the food cooked in it. The French word "casserole" had been derived from the old Provençal word, "cassa" and the Medieval Latin word, "cattia", both of these words meaning "ladle".