Chips and Salsa
Chips and salsa is an instant staple appetizer for most Mexican restaurants and meals. White, yellow or blue corn tortillas often served with a house salsa made from tomatoes, cilantro, onion, garlic and lime is the most common presentation. Salsas can be made from many kind of mild, medium and hot peppers. Commonly used peppers include mild peppers like poblano and pepperoncini, medium peppers such as Serrano and jalapeno and hot peppers like cayenne and Tabasco.
Guacamole
Guacamole, a dip made with an avocado base, can be prepared chunky or smooth. Some guacamole recipes may be simply seasoned with salt, pepper and lime for a mild version, or with a house pico de gallo that is generally made from chopped tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime, and seasoning. Guacamole is a wonderful accompaniment to most Mexican dishes or tortilla chips as an appetizer.
Nachos
Layered tortilla chips with assorted shredded cheeses make up the base of any nacho appetizer. From the base of layered chips and cheese a number of toppings may be added such as beans, mild house salsa or pico de gallo, jalapenos, guacamole, sour cream and chicken or steak. Nachos are a great appetizer to share with a group and with the right toppings this appetizer can also serve as a finger-food meal.
Ceviche
Ceviche is a popular Mexican appetizer with a long history, dating back to the earliest inhabitants in South America. The main ingredient is bite-size or cubed raw fish, which usually consists of sea bass or flounder. The fish is then marinated in lime juice, salt, chile peppers and seasonings. There are many variations of Ceviche recipes; some incorporate ketchup, corn nuts, avocado, mango, cilantro, coconut milk or grapefruit juice. Ceviche is typically served with chips with brunch or lunch, preferably when the fish is most fresh.
Quesadillas
Quesadillas consist of a folded tortilla with shredded cheese inside which is cooked until melted. Good for an appetizer or as a side with an entree, quesadillas are made with corn or flour tortillas and can be prepared with many different kinds of cheese. Some cheeses commonly used to make quesadillas are cheddar, pepper jack and Monterrey jack. To add variety, additional ingredients such as vegetables, chile peppers, chicken, sausage, steak, beans, sour cream, avocado, potatoes, spinach, scrambled eggs and salsa can be added.
