Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is a great opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture; especially in Tampa where Hispanic heritage runs strong. And what better way to celebrate than through making and eating amazing food? Whether you’re throwing a party or taking a dish to one, these Cinco de Mayo recipes are sure to give the fiesta an extra olé.
8 Delicious Cinco de Mayo Recipes
- Elotes [Mexican Street Corn]
To make the authentic elotes dish, choose fresh sweet corn, generously rub it with garlic and mayonnaise and roll it around in cotija cheese, cilantro, chili powder and a splash of lime. Ta-da! You now have a truly addicting and still pretty healthy authentic side dish. There are a lot of different recipes for elotes, but this one from Mariza (little spice jar) is both delicious and could easily be made on your outdoor grill too, without crossing the border or leaving Tampa!
- Posole Rojo
This recipe is both a little time consuming and takes a bit more effort, but is so worth it! Pork shoulder, red chilies, and hominy corn are at the heart of this dish, and trust us, you will never eat something so savory and full of flavor again.
This recipe comes from the Food Network, so you can trust that it’s great!
- Mexican Sopes
Ah, sopes. If you’ve never had the joy of these little treats, you literally are missing out on the sweet (or savory!) life. The sope is made from the same ingredients you’d find in a tortilla, but is thicker and smaller in diameter. Once made, your sopes are open for any kind of toppings your heart desires! Bonus: they are also gluten free!
Check out this recipe from Kristin’s blog, Yellow Bliss Road.
- Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema
In 15 minutes you can make 4 servings of this super delicious and very healthy dish. You can virtually any fish you want, but this recipe calls for Tilapia.
Get the entire rundown right here on the Live Fit Girls blog.
- Mexican Ceviche
If you’re a seafood lover like we are, ceviche is the “it” dish. Fresh, light, and the perfect appetizer, this raw dish is healthy and full of flavor. Yes, you will need time to let the citrus marinade “cook” the fish (from acid, not heat) and there are quite a few ingredients, but if you do it right, you’ll be the hit of the party, hands down. Follow this recipe from Cathy on the Noble Pig.
Looking for serving cups for this recipe? Click here to purchase on Amazon.
- The Fajita Bar
This Cinco de Mayo recipe can be used for a family night in or for a big party! Sauteed or grilled peppers and perfectly ripe avocados (to make guacamole) are the essential building blocks — on top tender, juicy steak — for this crowd pleaser. Otherwise, the topping options are endless. Take a look at this step-by-step recipe to fill family and friends’ with sizzling steak and fixins!
Keep your tortillas warm with this tortilla warmer from Amazon, click here to check them out!
- Walking Tacos
Ok, so this one isn’t a traditional Cinco de Mayo recipe, but it does incorporate great Mexican flavors, and who doesn’t want to nosh on a mini taco meal in a Frito bag while walking around Tampa?! Heck, we’d also probably add some of the removed Fritos to the mix! P.S. This recipe is also gluten free!
Check out this very helpful recipe from Courtney on her NeighborFood blog.
- Paletas de Mango con Chile (Mango-Chile Popsicles)
The combination of mango and chile is a hot (yet cold) Mexican treat with an unexpectedly amazing flavor profile of sweet and spicy. This is a very easy Cinco de Mayo recipe that doubles as a summer treat, too!
You will need 3-oz. ice pop mold for this recipe. Find one right here. Follow this recipe from Saveur.com and hand over popsicle happiness to those you love.
