Yucatecan Food Hunting Or Must Things To Do In Cancun

Why we feel one of the must things to do in Cancun has to be yucatecan food hunting? Well, because to most people´s ears, the solely mention of Cancun brings these images to their minds: insanely azure waters, white sand beaches, a never ending row of beachfront hotels, heat, guacamole and cold Margaritas. This always rises a question “What else can I eat in Cancun besides guacamole and sip margaritas?”
Most of 5 star hotels in the area are noticing and rescuing the ancient mayan cuisine these days, which is actually pretty interesting and today´s traveller is more likely to try things out of the traditional menu.

Incorporating elements of the traditional mayan cuisine and local products is today´s thing in the area, having scrambled eggs with chaya for breakfast in most restaurants and hotels as well as cochinita or pollo pibil, there are many options that you just have to try, here are some of my favorites:

Cochinita Pibil: If you´ve ever watched the movie “Once upon a time in Mexico” you will remember that all the food that Jonnhy Depp´s character had was “cochinita pibil” but what exactly is cochinita pibil? In mayan, pibil means “buried” which is the traditional method for slow roasted pork in the area. It is marinated with bitter oranges and “achiote” or anatto which gives the dish its characteristic color and adds flavour to it. As side dishes you can have rice, corn tortillas, fried beans or why not order a “torta de cochinita” which would have to be one of the ultimate pork sandwiches on earth. If you are not into pork, you can also try chicken pibil which is as good as it gets, you won´t regret it.

Poc Chuc: The pork and bitter oranges (or Seville oranges) are once again our friends here. This time the pork is grilled and sealed which is what poc chuc means in mayan (poc stands for toast and chuc for charcoal). It is often served with avocado, pickled onion, fried beans and a delicious roasted tomato sauce. Mouth watering without a doubt. On the other hand we also have the famous Tamales which as you probably know, are huge all over Mexico but probably one of the most characteristic tamales throughout the country are the yucatecan tamales. While most tamales are fold into dry corn husks and steamed, the yucatecan version is folded and cooked in plantain leaves which gives them a very special flavor.

Stuffed Chile: Thought we can find stuffed chiles in different areas of Mexico, the yucatecan way is, to me, more interesting since it is a clear reminiscence of the cultural melting pot that Yucatan is. In this case, the chile peppers have their seeds taken away and are stuffed with dutch edam cheese and meat, the result is just simply too delicious to put in words.

Lime Soup: Yucatecans know how to use their resoruces and obviously have a love affair with citrus, so add to what otherwise would be a plain chicken soup some lime juice and crunchy tortilla chips and voilà! You have got one of the best soups you will ever try.

Tikin Xic: Having some of the most spectacular coast sceneries of the country, yucatecan food would not be complete without some fish and seafood in the menú, right? Tikin Xic is one of the most ancient recipes of the region and it means “dry fish”. Do you want to guess what the seasoning of this dish is? Yeap, you got it, bitter oranges, achiote, is folded in plantain leaves and yes, as the oh so delicious pork pibil, it is cooked in an earth oven. There´s no need tos ay how tender the fish turns out, right?

Ceviche and Pulpo en Escabeche: You know ceviche, right? That refreshing and mouthwatering dish made out of white fish, shrimps and even octopus cooked in lemon juice with some onions, tomato and cilantro. There´s also the “Pulpo en Escabeche” which is octopus cooked with olive oil marinated into some citrus juice (of course), marinated bief, grilled, chopped and last but not least, fried. Tastes like heaven.

Marquesitas: You wouldn´t think that there were not going to be any kind of desserts involved, would you? Marquesitas are actually one of the most comforting dishes I´ve ever tried since depending on the mix you like it can have the right amount of saltiness and sweetness. These are basically a sort of a huge crepe that is spread with jam, peanut butter or nutella and then is rolled. But the very traditional marquesita is a rolled wafer stuffed with dutch edam cheese and sprinkled with some caramel sauce.

There are many more dishes but to explain them all it would be necessary another blog and by now you must be tired of reading about all the yumminess to be found in Cancun, right? So, write these dishes down and don´t forget that one of the most important things to do in Cancun in your next vacations is hit the streets and look for the finest yucatecan cuisine ¡Provecho!