How to throw a Mexican Themed Dinner Party...

Let's get this party started. Are you reminiscing about your holiday in Mexico?.. the blue azure waters, the afternoon siestas, late nights, the cool winds in the evening and the mariarchi band playing at your table while you've got a splitting headache because you have sunstroke, your fighting with your partner and you just want everyone to shut the hell up..... oooopps, I was having a flashback!
Well help is at hand, I am going to help you re-create the wonders of mexico (without the blue azure waters and the damn marchiari bands) in your own home.

Ring your friends and tell them put their ponchos on, we're having a party - mexican style!

Here are just a few of my favourite dishes.

There is nothing like a properly made guacamole with chunky pieces of avocado and the freshness of coriander with a hint of lime.. here is one of my favourite recipes (stupid outfit is optional!)

Start with an authentic Guacamole and make plenty of it.

This is what you will need

1 small mexican 

1/2 small red onion

3 jalapeno chillies, seeds removed

1/2 bunch coriander, leaves only,

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

3 ripe avocados

juice of 2 limes

8 cherry tomatoes, roughly chopped

corn chips, to serve

So, here's the lowdown.

Finely chop the red onion, chilli's and coriander leaves. Put them in a mortar and a good amount of sea-salt, pound these ingredients with your pestle until you form a rough paste.

Cut your avocado in half and place it in the mortar and start pound until the avocado starts to break up.  Note people: discard the avocado stone. You weren't really thinking of putting it in there were you?  

Tip: to keep the consistency 'rustic', don't over mash the avocados. We like to have a good amount of texture in the dip. 

The key ingredient in a good guacamole, is to season it well and add lots of lime juice. 

Add your cherry tomatoes, cut them into halves or quarters if you have the time and inclination to do so

Carefully fold through with a spoon to mix through all the ingredients . Hey, didn't you listen.. I said 'carefully'

Taste it to get the seasoning right, if its too citric simply add some more salt, too salty add more lime.

Lightly toast some corn chips in the oven and serve (what else are you going to do with it?)

Mexican-style king prawn cocktails (SMH)

Ingredients 

1 iceberg lettuce
1 ear sweetcorn, peeled, kernels removed
1/2 Spanish onion, finely sliced2 jalapeno chillies, deseeded, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped coriander
1 avocado, finely diced
extra virgin olive oil
juice of 2 limes
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
16 large cooked king prawns, peeled and deveined, tails intact

For sauce
3 tbsp tomato ketchup
2 chipotle chillies in adobo, minced
5 drops Tabasco sauce
250ml good-quality mayonnaise

To make the sauce, simply fold the ketchup, chipotle and Tabasco through the mayonnaise until well incorporated.

Wash the lettuce and discard the outside leaves, then shred finely. Distribute the shredded lettuce over a serving plate, then scatter corn, onion, chillies, coriander and avocado over the top. Drizzle with olive oil and lime juice and season to taste.

Scatter the prawns over the salad and dollop a bit of sauce on each prawn. Serve immediately.
Photography by William Meppem; Jennifer soo. Styling by Hannah Meppem. Food preparation by Dominic Smith.

source: smh.com.au / goodfood (2014)

Mexican Corn on the Cob

Pulled pork tacos

These pork Tacos melt in your mouth. The rich succulent shredded port is the hero of this dish. 

fish tacos

If you enjoy fish and you like soft tacos - a marriage made in heaven.

Vegetarian Chilli Tacos

A vegetarian take on chilli. These will appease any meat eater. They are absolutely delicious and be sure to top with a sprig of coriander to make it even fresher than it already is.

vegetarian fajitas

What more can I say? an old favourite made entirely vegetarian. Be sure to make a nice fresh salsa to go with this. In summer why don't you try to make a mango salsa. 

Churros

And finally for our lovers of something sweet, a traditional offering of Churros served with lashings of melted chocolate. This is a staple in Mexico and no mexican themed dinner party would be complete without it. 

By Elijah

all images from google.com (2014/15)