Traditional Mexican Holiday Foods

Christmas trees are being trimmed, Santa is working overtime taking photos and requests from children at the Galerias Shopping Center, and in kitchens throughout Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, delicious traditional holiday foods are being prepared.

Tamales are almost always served at Mexican Christmas parties, called posadas, and are made from masa, a corn dough, stuffed with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables or chilies and cooked in a corn husk or leaf.

Buñuelos are another popular holiday treat served in Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and other parts of Mexico.  They are made from yeasted dough flavored with anise and then deep fried and topped with brown or powdered sugar, cinnamon and sometimes guava.  They are often served with hot chocolate made from melting large squares of cinnamon spiced chocolate into whole milk or ponche, a hot fruit punch spiked with wine and served with a cinnamon stick.

On Christmas Eve, you will find bacalao served in many homes in Banderas Bay.  It is a dish made from salted cod, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, olives, capers and red bell peppers and served family style in a large dish in anticipation of visitors dropping in to celebrate.