5 Mexican Food and Cocktail Pairings For A Festive Gathering
Spicy, tangy and bursting with flavours, Mexican cuisine features a staggering selection of food items that are worthy contenders for any festive gathering. To complement the food menu, one can also design cocktail drinks that underpin the flavour of the food without overpowering it with its own taste.
The Art of Pairing Food and Cocktail Drinks
Finding the right balance of flavours between the food item and the cocktail drink is essential. To do this, one needs to examine the key components of the dish, its level of spice and acidity, as well as the texture. Then, select a beverage that either contrasts or complements the elements in the food.
For instance, the sweet and sour profile of a Margarita cocktail drink contrasts with the spicy taco.
Here are some recommendations for Mexican appetisers and cocktail pairings that highlight the robust Mexican flavours.
Guacamole and Margaritas
Guacamole is a Mexican classic, and can be whipped up by mixing ripe avocados with aromats like chopped garlic, coriander, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, red onions and lime juice.
Made in a base of mashed avocado, this rich and buttery food item is the perfect canvas for a spicy Margarita drink, which has both the astringency from the limes and the spiciness of the chilli powder.
Nachos and Sangria
Cheesy nachos are ideal for any party gathering. Unless one is making nachos from scratch, the dish itself is all about preparation and assembling.
The dish itself does not need any cooking on heat, and can be assembled in a jiffy, which makes it a great last-minute party snack.
Sangria, made with chopped fruits like apples and citruses like oranges and lemons, is fruity and sweet, which helps undercut the heavy cheesiness of the nachos.
Shrimp Ceviche and Paloma
Shrimp Ceviche, made with red onion, lime juice, tomatoes and avocado, along with the crowning glory—the shrimp—is a light salad that is as filling as it is delicate.
One can pair this dish with the Paloma cocktail drink, because it is made with zesty grapefruit, which complements the food and also lifts the palate.
Elote and Mexican lager
Elote is another quick snack option that is creamy, rich and has layers of flavours, but takes only a few minutes to prepare. All one needs to do is grill the corn on the cob, and then slather it with a mayonnaise sauce and sprinkle chilli powder, lime and cheese before serving.
This snack can be paired with Mexican lagers to reset the palate after every cheesy bite.
Seafood Tostadas and Michelada
Seafood Tostadas are jam packed with flavour. Along with your choice of seafood, which can be anything from shrimps to calamari to crabs, the dish gets its holistic flavour profile from a mix of avocados, sour cream, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, red onions, corn and a selection of ground spices including ground cumin and garlic powder.
Michelada is a spicy beer cocktail, featuring ingredients like Worcestershire Sauce, Hot Sauce and Soy Sauce, among others. The spice quotient of Michelada is complementary with the bright and perfumy Tostada fillings.
Drink responsibly. This communication is intended for audiences aged 25 and above.
