To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday celebrated on May 5, prepare a small fiesta at home by cooking colourful dishes filled with flavours inspired by Mexican cuisine. On the menu are tacos, burritos, enchiladas and lots of guacamole. And, as a bonus, some fruit and vegetable discoveries to integrate into your recipes.

1. Grilled shrimp tortillas with mango-avocado salsa by RICARDO

   To give the shrimp maximum flavour in this recipe, they’re marinated for about ten minutes in a mixture of cinnamon, cumin, garlic and coriander. And, to add colour, they’re accompanied by a mango and avocado salsa with a few drops of Tabasco. It’s a dish filled with freshness!

   Try this recipe: Grilled Shrimp Tortillas with Mango-Avocado Salsa by Ricardo

   Do you know about nopal cactus leaves?

   These fresh leaves can be found in grocery stores. To cook them, remove the thorns with a knife, then cut the leaves into cubes. They can be eaten raw or cooked, in a salad or a la plancha, topped with salsa and cheese.

2. Spicy chipotle beef and pickled onion burrito grande

   This ultra-generous burrito is brimming with minced meat, peppers and baby spinach, but it’s also brushed with a mixture of sour cream and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, which provides spice and a delicious smoky taste. Added to this are rice, corn kernels, black beans and iceberg lettuce.

   Try this recipe: Spicy Chipotle Beef and Pickled Onion Burrito Grande

3. Spicy guacamole

   When talking about Mexican dishes, it’s impossible to forget guacamole! There is no better condiment than this avocado purée to accompany tacos, nachos, burritos or quesadillas. We make a spicy version by adding Thai and chili peppers, not to mention a good dose of coriander.

   Try this recipe: Spicy Guacamole

   Do you know about tomatillos?

   Also called tomatillos in Mexico, these fruits are in the nightshade family (the same as eggplant and tomatoes). Like ground cherries, tomatillos are covered with a thin beige film. Their colour can vary from yellow, to red, green or purple. They can be eaten raw, but are most often cooked to make salsa verde.

4. Slow cooker Mexican carnitas pork

   For this traditional recipe, pork shoulder is simmered for several hours in a sauce made of chicken broth, orange juice concentrate, adobo peppers and spices. The sauce is thickened at the end of the cooking time so that it coats the pork well once it’s shredded.

   Try this recipe: Slow Cooker Mexican Carnitas Pork

5. Salsa trio

   To accompany your feast, try these three delicious salsas that are sure to please everyone at the table: strawberry and pineapple, mango and coriander, and tomato and basil.

   Try this recipe: Salsa Trio

   Do you know about corn husks?

   Corn husks are used to cook food on the barbecue. Although not edible, the leaves lend a sweet flavour to the ingredients they’re wrapped in, such as tamales. It is important to soak them in water for at least half an hour beforehand to prevent them from charring due to the heat.

6. Enchiladas with black beans and quick tomato sauce by TOUGO

   Enchiladas, which are stuffed, rolled tortillas cooked in a tomato sauce, are an amazing comfort food. Here, the enchiladas are filled with a mixture of pepper, corn and black beans, sprinkled with cheese, and then baked until golden in the oven.

   Try this recipe: Enchiladas with Black Beans & Quick Tomato Sauce by TOUGO