This month we celebrated in Mexico 200 years of independence, and we would like to end our celebrations with 5 Mexican staples to add more flavour to your pantry. If you want to stock your fridge or your pantry with these must-have essentials, this blog is for you!

1. Tortillas

While you can go really traditional and make your own Tortillas at home with masa; the reality is, we don’t always have time for that. That is why, even in most Mexican households you will find "all the time" a package of pre-made tortillas in their fridge.

The first staple we chose are AlbaLisa Organic Tortillas. We believe tortillas have become the "new bread" at homes.

You can find traditional Gluten Free White Corn tortillas, to fluffy and soft Wheat Flour Tortillas to even the unique-tasting Gluten Free Yellow Corn Tortillas, they taste just like homemade!

2. Tomatillos

Tomatillos look like green, unripe tomatoes with a dry husk that wraps around the outside. The taste is sour and sweet with a dense and dry texture. They are also a must to have in your fridge because you can roast them or even blend raw to make salsas, like the most popular salsa Verde which is a staple in Mexican cuisine.

You can eat Salsa Verde dipping it with some Tortilla Chips or add to any cooked meat to make it a stew.

3. Beans

We chose Beans as a wonderful and versatile staple to stock in your pantry! They are great to have on-hand for much more than Mexican food. They are a great source of fibre, protein and antioxidants. It has been shown that beans also help reduce cholesterol and promote good gut health. 

To achieve the authentic Mexican taste you can opt for Pinto, Black or Peruano beans, either raw or precooked and canned work perfectly fine. We recommend you check out Amy’s selection of Organic Beans which are gluten-free, vegan and overall made better for you!

Spread your refried beans on a soft or crispy tortilla and add a little cheese for extra flavour, and you have a simple yet delicious snack.

4. Mexican Spices

Mexican food includes a broad number of spices into its cooking to achieve that signature Latin taste. We believe that the staple spices that should never be missing in your home are: Mexican oregano, cumin and coriander. 

Cumin makes excellent refried beans! 

5. Hot Sauce

While it’s true that most Mexican households make their own salsa at home, there is always a bottle of hot sauce in the pantry. For those moments when you already took too much time preparing the main dish or for a convenient grab for snack time we think hot sauce is a must staple in your pantry.

We recommend our AlbaLisa Hot Jalapeño Sauces. You can choose Hot Jalapeño Sauce (for those who like it very spicy!) and Jalapeño Cream for putting it on tacos, salads, pizza, sandwiches, steak, fish, potato chips and anything you can think of!

 We hope that you found this guide useful and that you feel confident in incorporating more of Mexico’s diverse tastes into your pantry. 

For recipes, cooking tips and more, follow us on Instagram at @albalisamexicanfood.