Hungover? Or maybe just a little dehydrated after a long night of dancing? As crazy as it may sound, a hearty, rich, and salty authentic Mexican breakfast may be the best way to ease your pain and bring balance to the body. Whether you overindulged in tequila, ran way too many miles under the Mexican sun, or danced too much and for too long without proper hydration, your body may suffer the consequences the morning after. Our bodies are wise and complex machines, and we usually don’t give them the credit that they deserve. Morning-after cravings are much more than just an extension of a fun and carefree night; they are, in fact, a biologic response with a scientific explanation. Sodium helps keep water in our bodies in order to hydrate our cells and balance our electrolytes. When we are dehydrated, our bodies lose sodium, and in order to compensate for such loss, we crave salty foods.
When it comes to satisfying morning-after cravings, Mexican food is the way to go. Rich, hearty, spicy, and saucy is not only nourishing to the body, but also to the soul. One of the most authentic Mexican breakfast foods are the world-famous chilaquiles. Chilaquiles are corn tortillas cut in small squares, lightly fried until crispy, and covered in a red (tomato) or green (tomatillo) salsa. They are served warm and garnished with sour cream, queso fresco, fresh chopped onion and a side of refried beans. Some people like to add pulled chicken or eggs to the mix, scrambled or fried. Chilaquiles are often eaten for breakfast or for brunch. As with many traditional Mexican dishes, regional and family variations are quite common. In fact, chances are that if you know someone from Mexico and you ask them about chilaquiles, they will tell you that their abuelita, or grandma, makes the best chilaquiles in the whole entire world. Truth be told, my grandmother happens to make the very best. But I recommend that you try as many variations of this amazing dish as you possibly can. I bet every single one of them originated in a grandma’s kitchen.
Chilaquiles with Red Sauce and Pulled Chicken
If you happen to be waking up in Los Cabos and the intense morning-after cravings are begging you to indulge in a delicious plate full of chilaquiles, do yourself a favor and head on over to Tenangos at The Shoppes at Palmilla. They offer the classic red (tomato) and green (tomatillo) chilaquiles along with many other authentic Mexican dishes. Buen provecho!