Yucatecan Dining: Amazing Cuisine

Yucatecan dining offers some of the most unique cuisine in all of Mexico. With a unique combination of Mexican and European influences, the cuisine in this peninsula is some of the most unique, mouth watering offerings you will find anywhere. Before the nation's roads were improved and the tourist industry moved into the Yucatan, the area was difficult to get into from inland areas. With mountains and jungle blocking the way, the area remained somewhat isolated. The Yucatan ports were busy places, however, and a large part of the incoming people were of European descent. These immigrants and visitors contributed in large part to the unique creation that Yucatecan cuisine has become. The Europeans influenced many other aspects of the locals, but the food is where you will truly notice the difference between this amazing area and other cities in Mexico.

Some of the favorite dishes of Yucatecan cuisine are:

Lime Soup: Shredded chicken, fried tortilla and lime juice constitute this very tasty local soup. In addition to the amazing taste of this soup, it is purported to have medicinal qualities similar to what is ascribed to chicken noodle soup in the States. Lime soup is a local favorite that can be found throughout the city of Merida in better restaurants and even street vendors.

Motul Eggs: Tortillas, topped with refried beans and fried eggs, covered with peas, chopped ham, tomato sauce and scrumptious local shredded cheese. While it may sound strange, the amazing taste of this local dish will win you over.

Pollo Pibil: Chicken, which has been marinated in annatto, peppercorns, sour orange juice, cumin, salt and garlic. This is then baked, wrapped in banana leaves and then served hot. It is incredibly filling and one of the many local favorites.

Poc Chuc: Pickled onions atop sliced pork, marinated in sour orange juice constitute this local favorite. The flavor is amazing, though some may not enjoy the pickled onions.

Frijol Con Puerco: Diced pork and cooked black beans form the core of this wonderful staple dish. Usually, it is served with onion and cilantro and enough is made to serve an entire family. This is truly a local favorite and a staple food of the entire peninsula.

Panuchos: Shredded chicken, lettuce, refried beans and onion on top of a cooked tortilla. This makes a great lunch or appetizer and you can find it served throughout the city of Merida and the entire peninsula. Papadzules: Hardboiled egg, chopped up and rolled in a flour or corn tortilla. Usually, these are covered in pumpkin seed sauce or another sweet sauce.

Queso Relleno: Edam cheese stuffed with a mixture of ground pork, tomato, raisins, capers and olives, served with a red sauce.

There are many other regional favorites, as well. The unique flavor of Yucatecan cuisine is much less spicy than that found throughout the rest of the nation, so you should definitely try some if you have had a less than pleasant experience with traditional Mexican food.