Yucateco Cuisine

Yucateco cuisine is the Mayan and Spanish hybrid cuisine of the Yucatan Peninsula of southeastern Mexico.

Yucatec Mayans speak the Yucatec Maya language, one of several related Mayan languages. Yucatec Maya evolved from one of the major languages of the ancient Mayan civilization. The Yucateco Mexican dialect of Spanish is common in the region today, and many people are bilingual.

The Yucatan region has strong Mayan roots and is particularly associated with the Postclassic Period(950~1500AD) of ancient Mayan civilization, from which many ruins remain. Chichen Itza is one of the most famous Mayan historic sites.

Merida is a major Yucateco city today.

Ingredients

Corn is a staple ingredient. It is often nixtamalized(soaked in an alkaline solution) to make hominy, which can then be ground to make tamales, tortillas, and other dishes.

Beans are a major ingredient. Black beans are especially popular.

Pepita is a type of pumpkin seeds that can be eaten roasted or ground to make various dishes.

Tomato and chili, such as habanero, are often used.

Annatto(achiote) has strong red pigments for coloring dishes.

Epazote is a native herb often used with black beans.

Lime was probably introduced by Spanish colonists and is widely used today.

Egg, chicken, turkey, and pork are used.

Dishes

• corn tortillas
• codzitos: rolled corn tortillas, perhaps with filling, topped with pepita epazote sauce
• papadzules: tortillas with egg filling and pepita sauce
• salbute: refried corn tortilla with various toppings
• panucho: refried corn tortilla filled with refried beans and topped with other ingredients
• chiltomate: roasted tomato and habanero salsa
• x’nipec: roughly chopped tomato and habanero salsa
• sikil pak: pepita sauce
• refried beans
• dzik de pescado: white fish salad
• tikin xic: white fish marinated in annatto and citrus then wrapped in a leaf and roasted
• cochinita pibil: shredded roasted marinated suckling pig
• poc chuc: grilled marinated pork cutlet
• sopa de lima: soup with chicken or other meat, flavored with lime