New Mexican Red Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Most commonly green chile pairs with light meats (chicken). However, my favorite New Mexican spot in Santa Fe is Casa Chimayo. One of their signature dishes is red chile chicken enchiladas. If you have beef with the rule breaking, take up with the owner’s prior generations because I’m just the innocent product of it.
Pastel de Alcachofas
Artichoke pie by a fancy name. Think of this dish as artichoke spinach (more artichoke flavor) dip in a shell. This recipe is adapted from Adina by Martin Morales.
Wedding Cake
I’m definitely a wedding cake person. Before I lose you because there’s nothing special about wedding cake, wedding cake should be a white cake with almond flavoring, filled with fruit pineapple (most traditional), lemon or strawberry.
Crawfish Etouffee
Etouffee creates two camps of people: those who make it with a roux and those who use raw flour to thicken the mixture. I grew up eating both kinds, and like them both. The latter has my heart, perhaps because that’s the kind we had at my house growing up.
Cardamom Rice with Fried Egg and Yogurt
I like a good hearty breakfast so this dish is a great way to start my day. I am aware there are people who disapprove of my breakfast choices so eat it as lunch or dinner. Pair it with grilled chicken or shrimp if you like. Even if you go that route, make sure you eat it with a nice runny egg. The yolk brings an incredible richness to the rice.
Wannabe Kosheri
Kosheri is an Egyptian street food and is a great segway into eastern Mediterrean cuisine because its ingredients are common in an American Kitchen. You can eat it at room temperature with a simple cucumber salad with a yogurt dressing or serve warm with roasted cabbage.