Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the Battle of Puebla in 1862. An invading French force took on a smaller, poorly equipped force of Mexican troops near Puebla. Despite the size difference, the Mexican army won the battle.
Celebrations in the U.S. usually take the form of food and song and Mexican restaurants are busy over the first weekend of May. The weather in May is often perfect for sitting outside on a patio, whether at a restaurant or at home. Make your own celebration with these recipes.
Need some vegetarian and vegan ideas for tacos? We’ve got you covered.
To accompany the tacos, set out some sour cream (vegan or dairy), salad, salsa., and guacamole (recipe below).
Salsa is quick to make. At it’s simplest, it’s chopped tomatoes, minced onion, and a diced pepper or two. Try a hot pepper and a sweet pepper to mix things up.
Margaritas are a popular accompaniment to the food on this day. For a basic margarita recipe and some variations, check here.
Quick Guacamole Recipe
“Quick” may seem unnecessary as a descriptor for guacamole. I don’t think I’ve ever found a complicated recipe for this popular avocado dip.
3 avocadoes
Juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeno pepper
1 clove garlic
1/2 onion
1 tablespoon cilantro
Salt to taste
- Cut the avocadoes in half and scoop the pulp into a large bowl. Add a tablespoon of the lime juice and mash together.
- Remove the ribs and seeds from the jalapeno (or don’t, for added heat to your guacamole). Mince the jalapeno.
- Mince the garlic and onion and add them to the jalapeno.
- Cilantro often comes with stems attached. The stems are edible, but they can be tough. Use only the leaves for guacamole. Mince the cilantro and add them to the jalapeno, onion, and garlic mix and toss to distribute.
- Add the cilantro, onion, garlic, and jalapeno to the avocadoes and stir them in. Taste and add salt and more lime juice as needed. Let sit at room temperature for an hour and stir before serving.
- Serve with tortilla chips and veggies or use it as a spread for a sandwich or burger.
For ideas on decorating for Cinco de Mayo, check out our sister blog Crafting a Green World.
Avocadoes photo via Shutterstock
I love to experiment with new recipes! I think my husband will love to eat this with some chips when he watches the football game. Thanks for sharing. I am going to definitely make this tomorrow!