Some of the things that New Mexican’s love to eat can shock outsiders — and sometimes even ourselves. From pig parts to abuses of green chile, here are some of New Mexico’s best strange foods.
- Menudo
Nikki R./Yelp No, it’s not a boy band from the 1970s. We’re talking tripe soup. It’s said to rejuvenate your insides and clear your head, making it a popular hangover cure.
- Noples
Javier Lastras/Flickr Prickly pear cactus pads are awesome just sauteed with some garlic and onions. Just be sure to pull the spines!
- Pinon Coffee
Pinon Coffee House/Facebook We only know of one place that makes this (New Mexico Piñon Coffee Company, in Albuquerque), but this brand is everywhere. They make biscochito and Mexican spiced chocolate coffee too.
- Chicharrones
Karla M/Yelp Anything fried is a winner, especially pork belly or rinds. These nuggets of crunchy, melty goodness are wonderful alone or stuffed in a red burrito.
- Micheladas
CityMama/Flickr This is a Bloody Mary gone crazy. All the ingredients are there – beer, Clamato juice, hot sauce, and lime. We just wonder who thought of mixing these things together.
- Allsup’s Burritos
Kane Koite/Facebook Maybe you don’t eat these every day, but admit it – you’re tempted to buy one every time you walk into an Allsup’s. These fried, convenience-store burritos have been filling bellies on the go since the 1970s.
- Fusion Tacos
Andrew B./Yelp Duck and pomegranate, tempura salmon tacos, Korean bulgogi, fried oysters… You name it. If you call it a taco, New Mexicans will probably eat it.
- Fried Bologna
Fried Bologna/Facebook Your mom cooked this for you and you are still eating it. It’s a cheap, quick snack and perfect wrapped up in a tortilla with some chile and cheese.
- Frontier Cinnamon Rolls
Tazeen A./Yelp Grab your snorkel and dive into this tub of melted butter with a sweet, cinnamon roll island of goodness.
- Posole
Vin S./Yelp Savory, hearty and delicious! This rich stew is the perfect mix of hominy, chiles and (traditionally) pork. Add a squeeze of lime and chopped onion. If you want to get fancy, top it with chunks of avocado too.
- Green Chile Sushi
June S. /Yelp Japanese cooking is about balancing color, taste, and sensation. In the right hands, the pop of heat and fresh texture of chile really can work in sushi.
- Green Chile Sundaes
Young Guns Hatch Green Chile/Facebook This one is about balance too. The freshness and flavor of the chile is a surprising break from the sweet creaminess of the vanilla ice cream.
- Churros
William Helsen/Flickr The difference between a good churro and a bad churro is how long it has been since it was cooked. Fresh from the frier, these are pastry tubes of melt-in-your-mouth love.
- Blake’s Lota Burgers
Kevin Baird/Flickr There is nothing unusual about a hamburger, per se. What we want to know is why these ubiquitous burgers are so addicting.
- Chicken Fried Steak with Chile
Mike M./Yelp Wait, isn’t chicken fried steak supposed to come with white gravy? It’s an option, but when you can smother your fried steak with chile, why not?
- Chile Jerky
Dennis Amith/Flickr Red or green? Do you like your jerky slightly sweet with a hint of spicy red, or straight-up and flecked with green? Both seem to be winners in New Mexico.
- Max’s Steak Fingers
Chuck P./Yelp Available from breakfast to dinner, these deep-fried steak fingers have been a New Mexico drive-thru delicacy since 1949.
- Seafood Cocktails
aJ Gazmen/Flickr Forget the finger-food style cocktails with a ring of shrimp rimming a glass. The cocktails here can be any manner of seafood swimming in a spicy tomato bath with goodies like onions, lime and cilantro.
- Red Chile Candy
Dhinal Chheda/Flickr There is nothing new about mixing chile and chocolate. The Ancient Aztecs and Mayans mixed crushed cocoa beans with chile and other spices, making a drink for the gods. Turns out we modern people think the combo of chocolate and chile is pretty good too.
Which of these foods have you tried? What others strange New Mexico foods should go on our list?
Nikki R./Yelp
No, it’s not a boy band from the 1970s. We’re talking tripe soup. It’s said to rejuvenate your insides and clear your head, making it a popular hangover cure.
Javier Lastras/Flickr
Prickly pear cactus pads are awesome just sauteed with some garlic and onions. Just be sure to pull the spines!
Pinon Coffee House/Facebook
We only know of one place that makes this (New Mexico Piñon Coffee Company, in Albuquerque), but this brand is everywhere. They make biscochito and Mexican spiced chocolate coffee too.
Karla M/Yelp
Anything fried is a winner, especially pork belly or rinds. These nuggets of crunchy, melty goodness are wonderful alone or stuffed in a red burrito.
CityMama/Flickr
This is a Bloody Mary gone crazy. All the ingredients are there – beer, Clamato juice, hot sauce, and lime. We just wonder who thought of mixing these things together.
Kane Koite/Facebook
Maybe you don’t eat these every day, but admit it – you’re tempted to buy one every time you walk into an Allsup’s. These fried, convenience-store burritos have been filling bellies on the go since the 1970s.
Andrew B./Yelp
Duck and pomegranate, tempura salmon tacos, Korean bulgogi, fried oysters… You name it. If you call it a taco, New Mexicans will probably eat it.
Fried Bologna/Facebook
Your mom cooked this for you and you are still eating it. It’s a cheap, quick snack and perfect wrapped up in a tortilla with some chile and cheese.
Tazeen A./Yelp
Grab your snorkel and dive into this tub of melted butter with a sweet, cinnamon roll island of goodness.
Vin S./Yelp
Savory, hearty and delicious! This rich stew is the perfect mix of hominy, chiles and (traditionally) pork. Add a squeeze of lime and chopped onion. If you want to get fancy, top it with chunks of avocado too.
June S. /Yelp
Japanese cooking is about balancing color, taste, and sensation. In the right hands, the pop of heat and fresh texture of chile really can work in sushi.
Young Guns Hatch Green Chile/Facebook
This one is about balance too. The freshness and flavor of the chile is a surprising break from the sweet creaminess of the vanilla ice cream.
William Helsen/Flickr
The difference between a good churro and a bad churro is how long it has been since it was cooked. Fresh from the frier, these are pastry tubes of melt-in-your-mouth love.
Kevin Baird/Flickr
There is nothing unusual about a hamburger, per se. What we want to know is why these ubiquitous burgers are so addicting.
Mike M./Yelp
Wait, isn’t chicken fried steak supposed to come with white gravy? It’s an option, but when you can smother your fried steak with chile, why not?
Dennis Amith/Flickr
Red or green? Do you like your jerky slightly sweet with a hint of spicy red, or straight-up and flecked with green? Both seem to be winners in New Mexico.
Chuck P./Yelp
Available from breakfast to dinner, these deep-fried steak fingers have been a New Mexico drive-thru delicacy since 1949.
aJ Gazmen/Flickr
Forget the finger-food style cocktails with a ring of shrimp rimming a glass. The cocktails here can be any manner of seafood swimming in a spicy tomato bath with goodies like onions, lime and cilantro.
Dhinal Chheda/Flickr
There is nothing new about mixing chile and chocolate. The Ancient Aztecs and Mayans mixed crushed cocoa beans with chile and other spices, making a drink for the gods. Turns out we modern people think the combo of chocolate and chile is pretty good too.
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