Ok so experts I need your opinion and advise …
I would like to try out various recipes from both cuisines … most of the recipes seem similar … so what are the key differences between Italian and Mexican Cuisines? Is it the herbs , is it the cooking style? anything else ?
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
erm.. how are they similar? :O
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
You know the whole lot of enchiladas that goes in both
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
wht i have observe i think mexican r bit more spicy sorry if i sound odd 
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
i dont like italian but I love mexican.. I dnot find them similar!
italian is mostly pasta, bread, tomatoes, basil, oregano vs mexican that is beans, burrittos, rice, chili and jalapeno... I love mexican food!!!
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
Both the cuisines uses totally different ingredients and spices. Italian is usually identified by sauces that are usually tomato based or herb based. Pasta is a staple and is found in many different shaped. The staples of mexican are corn and beans. corn is also used in doughs. Also chillies are an important part of the cuisine.
but what we eat here is modified to suit our taste buds.........no pizza or gnocchi served here can be compared to what i have eaten in italy.
I like italian food for its simplicity while mexican for the heat.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
I find the Italian food available near me is heavy on carbs, whereas the real mexican food I have tried is more protein based e.g. lentil soups. Mexican food is also a lot fresher-there's recipes for fish (bit like steak tartare) whereby the fish is pickled in lime juice, salt and chillie and served as a taco filling. Very funky and fresh-tastes delish too.
Sorry CB, cannot think of any similarities.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
both r different...italian food contains herbs n sauces n not spicy at all while mexican food is spicy.....
i have tried many mexican recipes by chef zakir n all of them contains crushed red chillies....
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
Italian food is mostly pasta, tomatoes and cheese with meat as well.
Mexican is a lot of corn, beans, different meats with more spices.
I like Italian food but unless I haven't had it in six months or something...I don't really go out of my way for it.
Mexican food is good though...its got a bit more character to it.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
For good Mexican recipes that are more tailored to make them easier to make google Thomaslina Meirs of masterchef UK winner Thomaslina. She is the bees knees for Mexican stuff.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
... most of the recipes seem similar ...
CB I 've been trying to think of similarities but to be honest, except for the fact that they both use cheese a lot, I cant come up with any.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
Apart from using cheese....I guess another similarity could be that both cuisines include baked and layered casseroles...(that utilize cheese).
You'll find that many world cuisines have various ingredients in common....but some of those ingredients (rice, certain vegetables, etc) may be used more often in dishes and are considered like a staple.
I think Italian food is heavier....but I like it better than Mexican food. I'm picky with the latter...because I don't care for the mushy texture of some dishes like burritos, refried beans, etc.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
Both of these cuisines are worlds apart. They are not even remotely similar.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
While Italian cuisine has pasta of diff types as a side that is but a part of the cuisine. the actual cuisine is very varied and quite regional in nature e.g. tuscan, neopolitan, Piedmontese, Sicilian, Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo, Marche, Puglia, Sardinia. Depending on where it ranges on heavy fish, shellfish, vegetables, lamb, pork, chicken and fowl.
Mexican and Italian vary quite significantly, and real mexican food is very good.
sadly many people think of italian as olive garden and mexican and chichis and miss out on the great variety and flavors the cuisines have to offer. Its like going to one of those generic buffets and thinking that is what Pakistani food is.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
^I think Olive Garden is over-rated. Not a fan of it.
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
over-rated????
you are too kind..
its disgusting..
luckily in chicago we can get real italian food in little italy and authentic italian joints are splattered throughout
even for chains, there are better ones.
and get this, at the same prices as that disgusting oily-garden place
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
This born and raised Dallasite can tell you that what most people call "Mexican"'food is actually baztersized Tex-Mex...Which is still phenomenal in its own way if done correctly!
True Mexican food also varries according to region. Like the Yucatan Peninsula is very seafood centric, while Central Mexican cuisine relies on complex flavors and chiles (mole).
Chicago is very lucky to have Rick Bayless, America's expert on true Mexican food
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
Oh and totally agree with X2, Olive Garden is about as Italian as Rachel Ray's 30 minute Indian inspired meals are anywhere close to being authentic
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
what most people call "Mexican"'food is actually baztersized Tex-Mex...Which is still phenomenal in its own way if done correctly!
Couldn't agree more. And yum it is!!
Re: Mexican food v/s Italian
Chicago is very lucky to have Rick Bayless, America's expert on true Mexican food
love frontera grill, xoco, topolobampo, I even try to get his tort as at ohare when traveling and at the 7th floor food court at maces downtown..
good stuff...yum