Friday, December 23, 2005

Alternatives to bread

Wanted to try Mex food and went to the supermarket. Was mind-boggled by the types of warps available ...tortilla, taco, pita arrrgggghhhh! What's the diff?

(Courtesy of old Wikipedia - Wiki's your friend :P)

Tortilla (Mex) - It is made by curing maize in lime water, grinding and pre-cooking it, kneading it into a dough called masa nixtamalera, pressing it flat into thin patties, and cooking it on a very hot comal (a type of light sheet-metal griddle).

Enchilada (Mex) - An enchilada is a traditional Mexican dish. Enchilada literally means "seasoned with chiles". The traditional enchilada sauce is just that—dried red chile peppers soaked and ground into a sauce with other seasonings. The enchilada is typically made with a corn (maize) tortilla which is fried briefly in hot lard or oil to soften it, and then dipped in the chosen enchilada sauce. The tortillas are filled and rolled up, placed in a casserole, then layered with sauce and possibly other additions such as cheese and chopped onions. Fillings may be almost anything, depending on the cook's taste and means.

Quesadilla (Mex) - (from "queso", Spanish for "cheese") is a tortilla folded over shredded cheese or a cheese slice (often a Mexican-style soft farmer's cheese such as Chihuahua cheese or other light colored melting cheese), which might also include cooked meat and/or bean filling. It is then fried, deep fried or toasted using a broiler, griddle, or open fire, and sometimes spiced with salsa. The term can also be used for a pair of tortillas, with the cheese and other fillings between them, similarly cooked.

Taco (Mex) - A taco is a traditional Mexican dish comprising a rolled or folded, pliable tortilla (of either maize or wheat flour) filled with meat (generally grilled beef or pork), chili-based salsa, guacamole, and garnishes such as pico de gallo or cilantro. It may also contain just about any other filling that lends itself to it — generally meats or vegetables that are chopped and fairly dry.

Pita (Turk/Greek) - (also called pitta or pita bread or Turkish pide bread) is a round flat wheat bread made with yeast. Pita and other flat or pocket bread is traditional in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines from North Africa through the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula to India and Afghanistan and is believed to have originated in Ancient Syria. It is also commonly called Lebanese, Syrian or Arabic bread, especially in the Arab world, Israel and communities with Arab immigrant populations.

Naan (Indian) - a round flatbread made of wheat flour. Naans are a staple accompaniment to hot savoury meals in Central and South Asia, including the Punjab and Rajasthan and Gujarat regions in north-west India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan and the surrounding region. In Turkic languages (such as Uzbek and Uyghur) the bread is known as nan.

Soya sauce Korean rice cakes