A Taste of New Mexico!!

Coming to New Mexico, I had no idea that in addition the amazing full and rich vibrant culture that this state offers, it also is home to many local delicacies and delicious foods. 
While hopefully you have been following our wonderful and exciting New Mexico Road Trip.
I figured that while we are still traveling here, rather than do a single review of just one eatery, that I would give you a taste of several mouth watering treats that we've sampled along the way!
And much to my surprise I was able to find a vegan version of much of the local fare! WooHoo!! 
**As most of the time I'm traveling, being a vegan I have to go without trying any of the local dishes. 

According to Wiki:
New Mexico food culture is a fusion of Spanish and Mediterranean, Mexican, Pueblo Native American, and Cowboy Chuckwagon influences. "New Mexican food is not the same as Mexican and Tex-Mex" foods preferred in Texas and Arizona. New Mexico is the only state with an official question—"Red or green?"—referring to the choice of red or green chile. Combining both red and green chile is often referred to as "Christmas".

Albuquerque Int'l Balloon Fiesta

For starters while at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, there are several "fair" style food booths lined up and down the entire length of the Balloon Field. When I say fair style I'm referring to fried everything and anything you can think of (definitely not vegan). But then there was a spattering of local Mexican/New Mexican food booths. I had noticed that a few of these booths had even advertised having vegan dishes. So being that the kids were hungry, we decided to seek out one of the booths that offered "vegan". We came upon a menu with a vegan breakfast burrito. Of course I was interested in what the burrito was filled with and it had hash browns, beans, tomatoes, onions, and choice of red or green chile. The kids and Dave B were all over that and each chose the Green (more flavorful) Chile! 

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Vegan Green Chile Breakfast Burrito Time!

My stomach was still not quite awake yet, so I decided to skip on ordering myself one, but of course I asked for a bite! All it took was one bite and I was sold! The local Green Chile added so much delicious flavor that just bursted in my mouth. I attempted to fight the temptation, but Dave knew better and went back to order me my own Vegan Green Chile Breakfast Burrito!

Nom Nom Nom

Green Chile – The green chile we use comes from Hatch, New Mexico. It has a mild to warm, but definitely great taste.


And that burrito was only the beginning, I even managed to find Green Chile vegan Sushi at Nu Asia Vegetarian Restaurant!

Green Hatch Chile Vegan Sushi - Yes please!

My very first Sopapilla

The next local specialty is the Sopapilla (which I seem to have the most difficult time pronouncing! lol)
Boy oh boy were the kids excited when they found out that we could indulge in this freshly deep fried dough treat!! "Come on, what's better than Deep Fried Dough?!"




Sopapilla - 

• Sopapillas are a popular Hispanic dish in South America and New Mexico. The deep-fried pastries can be served as a dessert, covered with honey or syrup, or as an entree, stuffed with meat, cheese and peppers. 
  
• A Sopapilla is a crispy, deep-fried pastry. It is often served covered with honey or syrup. The pastry is common in Hispanic culture and is a favorite among many Hispanic cuisines. Sopapillas can be served salty or sweet. 
  
• Sopapillas are thought to have originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico, more than 200 years ago. 

• New Mexican sopapillas are made from tortilla-like dough. The dough is fried until it is puffy and a small air pocket appears within the pastry. In New Mexico, sweet sopapillas are often covered in honey or some kind of syrup and powdered sugar. Stuffed sopapillas are also popular in New Mexico. They are prepared the same way but instead of honey and sugar, the pastries are stuffed with ingredients such as refried beans, cheese, peppers and meat.

• Sopapillas are popular in New Mexican cuisines and are served in almost every New Mexican-style and Tex-Mex restaurant. Mexican cuisines doesn’t usually include sopapillas, but have a dish called buñuelo, a very similar sweet pastry type food.

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Ooooh a basket full of Sopapillas!

Next up is Indian Fry Bread! 
I know, I know...more fried dough! 
How can you go wrong with fried dough?!

On a more serious note what really is the difference between Indian Fry Bread and a Sopapilla?

• Fry bread tends to be more dense and flatter than sopapillas; also they are not hollow inside, as sopapillas are puffier. 
• Fry bread is flatter, and tends to be more dense than sopapillas.
  
• Fry bread is larger and sort of more round, sopaillas are smaller and usually more square or triangle shaped. 
  
• The recipes are different, but similar. Kinda of like they are close cousins! ;)
• Both are made of leavened dough that’s fried. Typically frybread is made from ingredients one would have found in government rations that were given to Natives on reservations, but recipes have evolved and often differ by Tribe and family.

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to try Fry Bread for the first time ever at the UNESCO site - 
Taos Pueblo - what an honor it was to be there, and the Fry Bread was super duper yummy! 
Like melt in your mouth good! Each and everyone of us wanted to order MORE!!!
Maybe I should hang out at Pueblos more often?!

And last, but most certainly not least I was über happy to find out that I could get a vegan Hot Chocolate at Kakawa Chocolate House, in Santa Fe - which has been rated one of the top 10 most luxurious places to have Hot Chocolate in the WORLD! Bring it on!!!

Zapoteca

American & Chai

Pomegranate & Chili Truffles

Well that's about all folks! 
Be sure to check back here in the weeks to come as Elisa & I review a few of the restaurants and this amazing Chocolate shoppe!!!

Happy travels and good eats!
-T