Mexican Appetizer Recipes - Easy Mexican Appetizers

Mexican cuisine has a Spanish or Middle Eastern influence in its flavor and taste. The food is known for its use of a variety of native spices that can alter the taste of any meal from mild to really hot and spicy. Mexican appetizers can be used for any occasion, they will not only add color to your party, but also arouse hunger, in anticipation of a dinner based on Mexican cuisine. A few popular recipes are listed below.

Quick and Easy Mexican Appetizer Recipes

Pepper Salsa
Ingredients:

• Black beans, drained and rinsed, 1 can
• Finely minced red pepper, ½ pepper
• Finely minced yellow pepper, ½ pepper
• Seeded and minced jalapeno, 3-4 peppers
• Finely minced avocado, 1
• Finely minced red onion, 1
• Finely minced cilantro, ½ bunch
• Fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp
• Olive oil, 1 tbsp
• Hot sauce, 1 tbsp
• Salt, 1 tsp

In a small bowl, juice lime over the avocado, and set aside. In another large bowl, mix all ingredients and prepare the salsa. Combine lime flavored avocado with salsa, and serve with tortilla chips.

Camarones Rellenos
Ingredients:

• Large shrimp, de-veined and butterflied with tails attached, 24
• Thick slices lean bacon cut in half, 12
• Shredded Manchego (melting cheese), 1½ cup
• Mayonnaise, 1½ cup
• Finely chopped chilies - Chipotles en Adobo, 3
• Adobo sauce, 1 tsp
• Minced garlic, 1 clove
• Minced lime zest, 1 tbsp
• Olive oil, 4 tbsp
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the chilies and adobo sauce, mayonnaise, garlic, lime juice and lime zest, and mix well. In a large heavy frying pan, place bacon slices in a single layer and cook over medium-low heat until soft. Keep pressing down the bacon with a spatula to keep it flat. Transfer to absorbent paper to drain, and set aside. Repeat procedure with all bacon slices.

Dry the shrimp completely with paper towels, taking care not to press them too much. Sprinkle with pepper, and stuff with cheese. Push the sides together and wrap with cooked bacon slice, covering all the cheese so it won't melt out while cooking. If needed, secure with a toothpick.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in the frying pan used to cook the bacon. Add a few of the bacon-wrapped shrimp and fry, taking care to gently turn over frequently, until the bacon is brown and the shrimp is pink, and cooked. Transfer to absorbent paper and let it drain well. Serve the shrimp with the chipotle mayonnaise.

Mexican Squares Recipe
Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour, ¼ cup
• Eggs, 5
• Fresh seeded jalapeno, 4 ounces
• Sour cream, 1 cup
• Grated Cheddar, 2 cups
• Mexican hot sauce, 2 tbsp
• Fresh cilantro leaves, 1tbsp
• Unsalted butter, 1 tbsp
• Baking powder, ¾ tsp
• Salt to taste

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, flour, salt and baking powder until smooth. Gradually stir in diced peppers, sour cream, cheese, hot sauce, and cilantro. Melt butter in a square baking dish and pour the egg mixture into it and spread with a spatula. Bake in a preheated oven to 350° F, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. When cooled, cut into squares, and serve with sauce of your choice.

Mexican appetizers offer a wide variety that one can choose from, depending on the occasion and the number of people. These mouth-watering appetizers are easy to make, and one can enjoy them with family and friends.