How to Learn About Aztec Food

Though the Aztec culture no longer exists, its influence can be felt strongly through its cuisine. Aztec food is similar to contemporary Mexican cooking, as it uses the same types of seasonings and ingredients. Though you are probably already familiar with such Aztec-derived foods as tortillas and tamales, researching Aztec food will provide a stronger understanding of this cuisine. It may even lead you to try out some Aztec recipes of your own!

Instructions

1. Get to know the native ingredients of the Aztec people. Maize was one of the most important food sources, and beans, quinoa, tomatoes, avocados, chocolate, chili peppers, insects, turkeys and even dogs were other staples. Research the main ingredients online and through books from your local library.

2. Understand how the ingredients were used. For example, maize, pounded into meal and cooked in a variety of ways, was the staple of many dishes. Generally, maize was flattened into tortillas, formed into tamales or cooked as porridge.

3. Examine native cooking methods. Most beans, meat and vegetables were stewed in pots, tamales were steamed over pots and tortillas were cooked over an open flame. Aztec cooking did not use ovens.

4. Identify the role of Aztec food in history and its influence on contemporary cooking. The influence can clearly be seen in Mexican and Southwestern food, but it spreads further than the Americas. There are a number of books that trace the way in which the New World influenced global cooking, and continues to influence it today. Classes in cultural anthropology at your local college can also increase your knowledge of Aztec food.

5. Seek out restaurants specializing in pre-Columbian cooking. Some Central American restaurants and some Mexican restaurants will specialize in recipes that have been around for centuries, and some of these recipes will likely be Aztec in origin. Tamales and tortillas certainly will be! Try an online search for pre-Columbian restaurants in your area.

6. Search for Aztec recipes and try them out yourself! The best way to gain a true understanding of a culture's food is to make it yourself. Search for Aztec recipes online, or seek out pre-Columbian cookbooks.

7. Consider enrolling in a cooking school and seeking out classes in pre-Columbian or Central American cooking.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are interested in more obscure details, such as the type of maize used in Aztec cooking, then research Aztec food at college or university libraries. A public library will be sufficient if you just want an overview of ingredients and methods.