Cuisine of the Yucatan
You have probably heard a lot about Yucatecan cuisine and have wondered: what is it that makes it so special? The answer goes back to colonial times (when the Spaniards brought many ingredients to the peninsula) and walks its way towards the 19th Century (when the Lebanese added their Middle Eastern influence upon it) gathering along the way, elements brought from Cuba, China, Japan and some European countries.
Oregano, coriander, capsicums, red onion, lime, sweet peppers, orange, Habanero pepper, and pumpkin seed powder are ingredients that play a main role in Yucatecan cuisine. All these elements make every dish unique in taste and smell, and transform every meal into a remarkable experience. 
The Yucatan peninsula has plenty of dishes you might want to try:
Cochinita Pibil: pork wrapped in banana leaves, pit-baked in achiote sauce, sour orange, and spices, served with plenty of hot corn tortillas to make tacos.
Panuchos: layered hand-made corn tortillas stuffed with beans, topped with shredded turkey or chicken, lettuce, red onion rings, and "xnipec" salsa (made of Habanero peppers, tomatoes, soured orange juice and salt).
Papadzules: chopped hard-boiled eggs wrapped in corn tortillas soaked in a pumpkin seed salsa, topped with tomato sauce and chopped Habanero pepper.
Lime Soup: a chicken or turkey vegetable soup flavored with lime and made a little spicy with a touch of Habanero pepper.
Chilmole: turkey in a dark spicy sauce.
Queso Relleno: a mild yellow cheese stuffed with minced meat, served in round slices covered in cream sauce.
Poc-chuc: charbroiled slices of pork with onions, marinated in a tasty sour orange sauce.
Pescado Tikinxic: fish marinated in achiote sauce, wrapped in banana leaves and charbroiled, served with a delicious sauce made of tomato and Habanero pepper.
There are lesser known dishes such as "Frijol con Puerco" (pork and beans), "Potaje de Lentejas" (lentil vegetable stew) and "Tamales Colados" (chicken wrapped in a heavy dough and baked in banana leaves) all of them are worth trying.
Vacation in Merida and fall in love with the taste of the Yucatan's delicious cuisine!
