Cinco de Mayo Recipes

San Diego’s proximity to the border means that we get to enjoy the rich, loaded flavors of authentic Mexican food whenever we want. We never have to travel far to find a hole-in-the-wall taco shop or a killer burrito. But there are certain occasions that call for stepping into the kitchen, rolling up your sleeves, and braving the culinary world on your own. If you’re hosting a party to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or if you just want to prepare some Mexican food on your own, we’ve found a few recipes that will help you out. The list contains the tried and true classics, but also includes other dishes that aren’t prepared as often. Guacamole, margaritas, and tacos are go-to’s for Cinco de Mayo, but what about elote, churro and churro cupcakes? Don’t worry, we’ve covered all the bases:

Steak Tacos with Mango Jalepeno Salsa

These tacos call for a skirt steak taco topped with a delicious mango jalapeño salsa on a bed of shredded purple cabbage. The cabbage and the mango add fun color to the plate and they pair amazingly with the steak. The salsa adds a citrusy kick to the dish. Bet you can’t have just one!

Guacamole

Guacamole seems simple enough: mashed avocados seasoned with some lime, salt, and pepper. Right? Wrong. This recipe adds Roma tomatoes, red onion, garlic powder, and Frank’s hot sauce. Fully loaded guacamole is a must on Cinco de Mayo.

Elote

Mexican street corn is heaven. There’s just something that feels so right about smothering vegetables in unhealthy substances. Mexican street corn is simple, but oh so satisfying. You’ll need mayonnaise, garlic powder, cottage cheese, cilantro, chipotle chili powder, and limes. Preparation and cook time only totals 35 minutes, but elote is always a showstopper.

Jicima, Mango, & Citrus Salad

For all you health nuts: Don’t worry, there’s something here for you, too. This salad is refreshing and satisfying, especially on a warm day. It’s the perfect blend of crunchy, sweet, and spicy. If you’re looking to heat it up even more (the recipe already calls for jalapeno in the vinaigrette), top it with Tajin.

Churro Cupcakes

Churros are perhaps the most well-loved Mexican dessert. And why wouldn’t they be? They’re bursting with deep-fried sugary cinnamon flavor and they’re light like a donut. For a twist on this classic dessert, try making churro flavored cupcakes. This way, you get to enjoy the vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon cake along with the vanilla buttercream frosting. If you garnish the cupcake with a traditional churro, then you get the best of both worlds.

Pineapple Coconut Margarita

Cinco de Mayo is often called “Drink-o de Mayo”, especially this year because the holiday happens to fall on a Friday. This pineapple coconut margarita recipe will get the party started. The flavors are indicative of the warmer weather that has been creeping up on us as well as the holiday that is upon us now.

We hope you have a happy Cinco de Mayo and that you don’t miss any opportunities to eat good food or drink good drinks on this most epic eating holiday.