Mexican Ingredients and Terms at a Glance

If you find an ingredient in a recipe or a term used in some instructions and have no idea what it is, check this list.

• Achiote-Annatto, a spice used in the Yucatan region
• Ajo-Garlic
• Al Horno- Oven baked
• Ancho-Dried poblano chile
• Antojito-Appetizer
• Arroz-Rice
• Azucar-Sugar
• Barbacoa-Barbecue
• Cafe-Coffee
• Calabaza-Squash
• Camarón-Shrimp
• Carne-Meat, usually beef
• Carnitas-Shredded, fried pork
• Cebolla-Onion
• Chimichanga-Deep fried meat burrito
• Chipotle-Ripe jalepeno, smoked and dried. Can be canned in Adobo sauce.
• Chorizo-Spicy sausage
• Crema-A thickened cream similar to sour cream, but not as tangy.
• Elote-Corn
• Ensalada-Salad
• Galletas-Cookies
• Habanero-Extremely hot pepper
• Helado-Ice cream
• Horchata-Rice beverage
• Huevos-Eggs
• Leche-Milk
• Maize-Corn
• Mariscos -Shellfish
• Nopales-Cactus
• Pan-Bread
• Pan Dulce-Sweet Bread
• Picante-Spicy hot
• Pimienta-Black pepper
• Pollo-Chicken
• Puerco-Pork
• Queso-Cheese
• Relleno-Stuffed
• Sal-Salt
• Sopa-Soup
• Torta-Sandwich