What is the national dish of Mexico?
Mole poblano is often called Mexico's national dish. This rich sauce made with chili peppers, spices and chocolate is usually served over turkey or chicken.
Mole poblano comes from the state of Puebla. It can contain more than 20 ingredients, including several types of dried chilies, nuts, seeds, garlic, spices and a little chocolate, which add depth rather than sweetness. Making it from scratch can take a whole day, so it is often prepared for weddings, birthdays and festivals.
According to legend, nuns at a convent in Puebla invented mole in the late 1600s to honor a visiting archbishop. Historians believe the dish actually developed over time, mixing Indigenous ingredients like chilies and turkey with spices brought by the Spanish. There are many other kinds of mole, including black mole from Oaxaca.
Tacos and more
Tacos are the everyday favorite and Mexico's most famous food abroad, especially tacos al pastor, made with marinated pork cooked on a spit. Chiles en nogada, stuffed peppers in a walnut sauce topped with pomegranate seeds, show the colors of the Mexican flag and are eaten around Independence Day.
Did You Know?
Traditional Mexican cuisine was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010, one of the first national cuisines to receive that honor.