Recipes: Mexican Oregano

Mole sauce is a rich chocolate sauce flavoured with chillies and spices and a whole host of other ingredients. This particular recipe is a famous traditional recipe from the Martinez family of Oaxaca City and is served every day at their wonderful restaurant Casa de la Abuela. It uses Ancho Poblano and Guajillo chillies. Mole is traditionally served with Turkey but can be used with Chicken or Pork. Mole sauces are thought to originate from the state of Puebla east of Mexico City. The exact origin of Mole Poblano is disputed but one of the more interesting stories is that it was served to Cortez and the invading Conquistadors by the Aztec King Moctezuma who thought they were Gods.

This is probably the most versatile version of the red chilli sauces and is made using Guajillo chillies. It also shows the important technique of toasting dried chillies on a griddle pan which develops the flavour. This sauce can be used to make red enchiladas, enchiladas rojas, with any preferred filling; with cooked pork to make carne con chile Colorado; and also with string beans or potatoes to make simple Lenten dishes.

The first thing to say about Chilli Con Carne is that it is not, strictly speaking a Mexican dish. What we now know today as Chilli Con Carne is a bastardised version of what was served as free food in Mexican drinking establishments in the 1800s as a way of prolonging the drinkers' stay so they would spend more on booze. The previous days left-overs were recooked using spices and chilli. The dish became american-ised in Texas and became an important part of Tex-Mex cuisine. A good Chilli Con Carne takes time and should be cooked slowly. In our recipe we use Chipotle chillies to impart their deep smokey aroma and flavour and Habanero chillies to provide a good strong chilli heat.

Carnitas means "little meats" and is shredded slow cooked pork shoulder, finished off in the oven to crisp up giving you a mouthwatering combination of soft, tender and crunchy textures. Carnitas can be enjoyed with Mexican rice or used to fill tacos, enchiladas or burritos.