Mexican Please

Mexican Please Best Recipes of 2020

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Can we finally say goodbye to 2020?!

If you’re struggling to eke out some goodness from this crazy year then maybe one of these 12 recipes will add some much-needed spice to your holiday season.  These are the best of the best for 2020, and after compiling this list it was clear that many of these recipes were in the comfort food category.

That’s probably no coincidence given the year we’ve had! 

Hopefully next year’s list is topped by Freedom Salsa, but in the meantime I hope these recipes bring you some comfort (and heat) over the coming holiday season 🙂

Clicking the title of the recipe will take you to a page with printable instructions.

The best recipes of 2020 from Mexican Please

 

Masa Harina Cornbread

I finally got around to experimenting with Masa Harina in cornbread and I’m glad I did!  Traditional versions use cornmeal as the base, but using Masa Harina will give you a bump in flavor and make it more “corny”.  This recipe also uses chipotles for some zip, but you can consider those optional.

I used Masa Harina instead of cornmeal in this batch of cornbread and it was delicious! I also used chipotles in adobo for some kick 🙂 mexicanplease.com

 

Beef Birria — Birria de Res

This is easily one of my favorites of the year!  Think slow-cooked beef in a rich red sauce and you’re right on track.  It has a big, satisfying flavor, and you can make all sorts of quick meals from the leftovers. 

Beef Birria tacos

 

Jalapeno Hot Sauce

Who knew hot sauce recipes could be so popular?  The thriving hot sauce subculture has made this the most visited page on the site this year.  You’ll need a pound of jalapenos for this recipe, and that’ll give you some serious zip so consider yourself warned!

Here's an easy recipe for a batch of homemade Jalapeno Hot Sauce. It uses a pound of jalapenos so consider yourself warned! mexicanplease.com  

Chili con Carne

If you grew up with Chili then consider giving this authentic Chili con Carne a go!  Using dried chiles gives you a massive upgrade in flavor compared to powdered versions, and that’s put this dish back on regular rotation for me. 

If you grew up with Chili then you MUST try this authentic Chili con Carne. Using dried chiles gives you a massive upgrade in flavor -- so good!

 

Sopes with Refried Beans and Cheese

Have you made Sopes before?  Imagine a Gordita with the edges pulled up and you’ve got it.  I topped this batch with refried beans, Queso Fresco, and pickled jalapenos, but Sopes are wildly versatile so feel free to go crazy with the toppings.

Sopes topped with pickled jalapenos, Queso Fresco, and refried beans.

 

Spicy Bean and Egg Burritos — Freezer Friendly!!

Make a big batch of these Spicy Bean and Egg Burritos and you’ll get some free meals over the next couple weeks.   The key is to load up the beans with tons of flavor — I used 3 chipotles for this batch, but feel free to use less for a milder batch.  Or more if you want 🙂

8 bean and egg burritos

 

Easy Taco Salad (Ground Beef)

This Taco Salad is a new favorite for me this year.  Feel free to get creative with the fixings, but the Avocado Dressing is non-negotiable!  It’s a creamy, delicious green sauce and it brings everything together in this crowd friendly meal. 
 
This Taco Salad is my favorite meal over the past month -- super flexible and it has loads of flavor! The avocado dressing is the key so don't skip that part! mexicanplease.com
 
 

Red Pozole

This is an easy recipe for a soul-warming batch of Pozole Rojo, one of the heartiest, most satisfying dishes in all of Mexican cuisine.  I used pork for this batch, but the base flavor will work equally well with chicken or veggies.
 
Adding spices to the Pozole before simmering 
 

Enchiladas Verdes

If you’ve ever made Salsa Verde at home then you know how to make these Enchiladas Verdes.  It’s such a simple sauce to make, but when you goop it on top of crispy, cheesy corn tortillas it is absolutely delicious 🙂
 
Enchiladas Verdes with cilantro just before serving
 
 

Easy Mexican Bean Soup

This is my go-to recipe for Mexican Bean Soup.  It uses simple, healthy ingredients, and when made with good stock it is wonderfully satisfying.  I used black beans, but the recipe will work equally well with Pintos or Peruanos. 
 
This is a trusty Mexican Bean Soup recipe that you can use with any type of bean -- but please try to make it with some stock that you trust as it makes a huge difference! I used homemade vegetable stock but chicken stock is an equally good choice. mexicanplease.com
 
 

Spicy Beef Taquitos

It’s such a treat to remember you’ve got some of these Spicy Beef Taquitos tucked away in the fridge!   You’ll get 24 scrumptious taquitos from this recipe — which means you’ve got plenty of free meals coming your way over the next couple weeks.  Just plop ’em in the oven and chowtime in 20 minutes 🙂
 
It's such a treat to remember you've got some of these Spicy Beef Taquitos in the fridge/freezer for a quick meal! I dipped this batch in some Salsa de Aguacate and they were delicious! mexicanplease.com
 
 

Mole Poblano

And finally, hello Mole Poblano!  At first glance this is an intimidating recipe, but once you track down the dried chile combo (Anchos, Mulatos, Pasillas) the rest of the ingredient list becomes a little more forgiving.  This is one of my favorite flavors in all of Mexican cuisine so I hope you give it a go at some point!
 
What a treat to have Mole Poblano in the house! It's such a unique, otherworldly flavor and it reminds me of my time in Cozumel. mexicanplease.com
 
 
Okay I hope you find some keepers in that list.  Feel free to use the comments section below if you have questions about any of these soul-warming recipes 🙂
 
And for reference here are the lists from the last couple years:
 
 
 
Buen Provecho.
 

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Comments

  1. So many good recipes! My favorites for 2020 are the mayocoba beans and the flour tortillas.
    I tried making flour tortillas in April when we went into lockdown and haven’t used store bought flour tortillas since. I’ve used these two recipes more than any other. I’ve always loved a simple bean burrito/soft taco. I pretty sure these weren’t first posted in 2020 but I had to weigh in.
    Happy New Year!

    Reply

  2. Hi Patrick,
    Awesome recipes! Have made all of them but the Mole & the Red pozole, because they are a bit more time consuming. One thing for sure, I bet they are as delicious as the rest. Thank you for keeping us busy and in the kitchen, away from the Coronavirus!
    Happy holidays and a productive 2021 to you and your family.

    Reply

  4. Gracias, Patrick. I tried several of these this year and they turned out well (masa bread, chile, enchiladas, hot sauce) and I am anxious to try some more (pozole, birria, bean soup, mole). I am lucky to live in Colorado so finding ingredients is not too hard. I’m looking forward to next year’s recipes.

    Have a wonderful holiday

    Reply

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