Antojito
Encyclopedia
An antojito is a Mexican
street snack designed to satisfy a craving
(or antojo in Spanish
). Many antojitos have become regional icons of Mexican cuisine and can be found in almost every region of Mexico, although there are a few local variants that are exclusive to a specific place.
It is widely accepted that an antojito does not count as a full meal, but just as an appetizer, even though some are very large and substantial. Antojitos are frequently consumed on the streets or in street markets and are considered informal cheap food.
All antojitos are salt
y and cooked. Although not considered antojitos themselves, guacamole
, refried beans
and totopo
s often accompany Mexican antojitos, either as a side dish or an entrée.
These traditional antojitos are confined to their respective states of origin.
s, fried potatoes and popcorn
. In most cases, the words "botana" and "snack" are not used in reference to antojitos.
In general, antojitos are considered an informal street food.
In Canada
, antojitos are a common appetizer at many restaurants made by spreading a cream cheese mixture over a soft tortilla
, rolling it into a cylinder, and cutting it into small wheels after baking.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
street snack designed to satisfy a craving
Food craving
A food craving is an intense desire to consume a specific food, stronger than simply normal hunger. According to Marcia Levin Pelchat "It may be the way in which foods are consumed A food craving is an intense desire to consume a specific food, stronger than simply normal hunger. According to...
(or antojo in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
). Many antojitos have become regional icons of Mexican cuisine and can be found in almost every region of Mexico, although there are a few local variants that are exclusive to a specific place.
It is widely accepted that an antojito does not count as a full meal, but just as an appetizer, even though some are very large and substantial. Antojitos are frequently consumed on the streets or in street markets and are considered informal cheap food.
List of common traditional Mexican antojitos
- ChalupaChalupaA chalupa is a tostada platter in Mexican cuisine. It is a specialty of south-central Mexico, including the states of Puebla, Guerrero and Oaxaca. Chalupas are made by pressing a thin layer of masa dough around the outside of a small mold, and deep frying to produce crisp, shallow corn cups...
s - Chicharron
- EsquitesEsquitesEsquites is a Mexican snack or antojito. Shops and market stalls selling corn also tend to sell Esquites. Festival and fair stalls may sell them too. The word esquites comes from the Nahuatl word ízquitl, which means "toasted corn"....
- GarnachaGarnachaGarnacha is a Spanish name that may refer to:*Grenache, a red wine grape*Garnacha Blanca, a white wine grape*Garnacha Tintorera, a synonym of Alicante Bouschet...
s - GorditaGorditaA gordita in Mexican cuisine is a corn cake made with masa harina and stuffed with cheese, meat or other fillings. It is similar to a pasty and to the Colombian/Venezuelan arepa. Gordita means "little fat one" in Spanish. A gordita is typically fried in a deep wok-shaped comal or baked on a...
s - HuaracheHuarache (food)thumb|right|Preparing huaraches.Huarache is a popular Mexican dish consisting of an oblong, fried masa base, with a variety of toppings. The name "Huarache" is derived from the shape of the masa, similar to the popular sandals of the same name. The word Huarache is originally form Purepecha or ...
s - MemelaMemelaMemelas are fried or toasted cakes made of masa topped with different fresh ingredients eaten as antojitos or snacks in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico which has its origins in Prehispanic food. They are similar to fresh corn tortillas, but are somewhat fatter...
s - PambazoPambazoPambazo is the name of a Mexican white bread. It is also the name of the dish or antojito made with this bread dipped in a red guajillo pepper sauce and filled with papas con chorizo ....
s - QuesadillaQuesadillaA quesadilla is a flour or corn tortilla filled with a savoury mixture containing cheese and other ingredients, then folded in half to form a half-moon shape. This dish originated in Mexico, and the name is derived from the Spanish word queso ....
s - SopeSopeA sope is a traditional Mexican dish originating in the city of Culiacán. Originally called gordita or pelliscadas in Culiacán. It is an antojito which at first sight looks like an unusually thick tortilla with vegetables and meat toppings...
s - TacoTacoA taco is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. A taco can be made with a variety of fillings, including beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables and cheese, allowing for great versatility and variety...
s - TlacoyoTlacoyoTlacoyos are oval shaped fried or toasted cakes made of masa. They are similar to fresh corn tortillas, but are somewhat torpedo-shaped and fatter. Tlacoyos are stuffed with refried beans, cheese, fava beans, chicharron or other ingredients. Tlacoyos are often served as an accompaniment to soups...
s - TostadaTostadaTostada is a Spanish word which literally means "toasted". It is used in Latin America to name several different traditional local dishes which have in common the fact they are toasted or use a toasted ingredient as the main base of their preparation. There is a gender difference between "tostada"...
s
All antojitos are salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
y and cooked. Although not considered antojitos themselves, guacamole
Guacamole
Guacamole , is an avocado-based dip that originated in Mexico. It is traditionally made by mashing ripe avocados with a molcajete with sea salt. Some recipes call for limited tomato, spicy Asian spices such as white onion, lime juice, and/or additional seasonings.-History:Guacamole was made by...
, refried beans
Refried beans
Refried beans is a dish of cooked and mashed beans and is a traditional staple of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, although each cuisine has a somewhat different approach when making the dish.-Ingredients and preparation:...
and totopo
Totopo
Totopo, in Mexican cuisine, is a flat, round, or triangular corn product similar to a tortilla, best known as originating from Zapotec peoples of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. There, the Zapotec women bake totopos in a clay oven known as a comixcal...
s often accompany Mexican antojitos, either as a side dish or an entrée.
Less common traditional Mexican Antojitos
- CorundaCorundaCorunda is a Mexican food, similar to tamales, but wrapped in a long green corn plant leaf, and folded, making a triangular shape. Eaten with cream and red salsa, filled with masa mix and usually without a meaty filling. They're steamed till golden before being eaten, and then, one unwraps the leaf...
s, found only in the state of MichoacanMichoacánMichoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia... - Pastes, found only in the state of Hidalgo
- Picaditas, mostly in south central states
- Panuchos, found only in the state of YucatánYucatánYucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
- Salbutes, only in Yucatán
- TlayudaTlayudaTlayuda, sometimes erroneously spelled Clayuda , is a handmade dish part of the traditional Mexican cuisine, consisting of a large and thin crunchy partially fried or toasted tortilla covered with a spread of refried beans, asiento , lettuce or cabbage, avocado, meat , Oaxaca cheese, and salsa.They...
s, found only in the state of OaxacaOaxacaOaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
These traditional antojitos are confined to their respective states of origin.
Differentiations in use of the word
Although tourists consider antojitos a snack, this meaning of the word is rarely used in Mexico for this type of food. In most cases antojitos are thought of as "street food". An alternative word for "snack" applied in Mexico is botana, but this is reserved solely for food such as crisps, peanutPeanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s, fried potatoes and popcorn
Popcorn
Popcorn, or popping corn, is corn which expands from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn is able to pop because, like sorghum, quinoa and millet, its kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy interior. This allows pressure to build inside the kernel until an explosive...
. In most cases, the words "botana" and "snack" are not used in reference to antojitos.
In general, antojitos are considered an informal street food.
Other versions of antojitos
In many restaurants in Mexico and other countries, small-sized antojitos are offered as appetizers, often served in mixed plates which contain a selection accompanied by beans, guacamole and totopos to taste.In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, antojitos are a common appetizer at many restaurants made by spreading a cream cheese mixture over a soft tortilla
Tortilla
In Mexico and Central America, a tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flat bread, made from finely ground maize...
, rolling it into a cylinder, and cutting it into small wheels after baking.