Question: Does mexican food have to be so spicy and are there any mild options?
Answer: There are many Mexican dishes that do not have to be spicy such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas. However, Mexicans use a lot of chiles in their dishes and that is where the spiciness comes from. Most people don't mind a little heat because it is worth the flavor you get from the chile. Some people just think hotter is better.
Most recipes do call for chiles in some form or another and most chiles are hot. You can't leave them out because the whole dish may rely on the flavor of the chile too. So if your recipe calls for chiles, try reducing the amount. The less chile you have, the less heat. Canned and jarred chiles and sauces are usually less potent than the fresher versions. Also there are some techniques you can try to reduce a chiles heat.
Some mild chile ingredients to try-
- Chile powder
- Enchilada sauce (look for "mild" on the label.)
- Mild green taco sauce
- Green Tabasco sauce
- Canned green chiles
