From Chelsie Kenyon,
Your Guide to Mexican Food.
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Here is a list of common ingredients you may want to keep on hand to create authentic Mexican cuisine whenever you want. Print it out and take it with you shopping. If you have a particular recipe in mind, check the ingredients needed to make sure you get everything necessary.

PANTRY-

Canned Goods

• Red chile sauce
• Green chile sauce
• Diced green chiles
• Whole green chiles
• Chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
• Other assorted chiles
• Jalapenos
• Tomato sauce
• Refried beans
• Black beans
• Tamarind (Tamarindo)
• Chicken stock or broth
• Beef stock or broth
• Evaporated Milk
• Sweetened Condensed Milk

Chiles- dried, powdered, canned or paste

• Chipotle
• New Mexico
• Anaheim
• Hatch
• Poblano
• Ancho
• Chile Negro
• Serrano
• Jalepeno
• Guajillo
• Pasilla
• Cascabel

Dried Beans and/or Rice

• Pinto beans
• Black beans
• White rice, long grain
• White rice, medium grain

Seasonings-dried or ground

• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Standard Chile Powder
• Cumin
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Saffron
• Cilantro
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Cloves
• Bay leaves
• Achiote
• Epazote
• Anise
• Vanilla
• Vanilla Beans
• Hoja Santa

Breads/Flours

• Flour tortillas
• Corn tortillas
• White flour
• Corn meal
• Masa Harina
• Cornmeal
• Hominy, frozen or dried

FRESH/REFRIGERATED-

Produce

• Tomatoes
• Tomatillos
• Cilantro
• Epazote
• Onion
• Potatoes
• Cucumber
• Parsley
• Jicama
• Limes
• Lemons
• Green Onion
• Assorted green chiles
• Assorted red chiles
• Bell pepper
• Avocado
• Garlic
• Plantains

Cheese/Dairy

• Jack
• Queso Fresco
• Queso Blanco
• Queso Enchilado
• Cotija
• Panela
• Crema

Protein

• Eggs
• Ground beef
• Flank or skirt steak (for Carne Asada or Fajitas)
• Large beef cuts (for stews and roasts)
• Chicken breasts
• Chicken pieces
• Whole chicken
• Veal
• Lamb
• Pork loin
• Pork roast
• Chorizo
• Ribs (beef or pork)

OTHER-

• Tortilla chips
• Lard
• Tequila
• Vegetable oil
• Coarse salt
• Chile sauce
• Sugar
• Honey
• Unsweetened chocolate
• Mexican chocolate
• Piloncillo