Southern comforts

While authentic southwestern flavours have been steadily gaining popularity in restaurants, Canadian home cooks haven't moved far beyond preparing tacos and fajitas. Limiting this cuisine to so few items means missing out on many of the subtleties of the southwest. Try these two easy recipes for weeknight meals that explore all the region has to offer.

The Southwestern Pantry

If you like the flavours of the southwest, stock your pantry with these items so you can throw together a quick meal at the drop of a sombrero. To make weeknight preparations even easier, combine all the items in a basket or bin so that you can combine these flavours without having to search through the cupboards.

Barbecue sauce Choose your favourite smoky blend.
Black beans Available dried, canned or frozen.
Chili powder Beyond the basic ground variety, look for habanero and smoked chili powders for gourmet flair.
Chipotle peppers Sold canned or dried, these dried, smoked jalapeños add fire and depth. Canned versions often come in adobo sauce, a chili powder-flavoured mixture.
Corn Available fresh, frozen or canned.
Cornmeal In coarse, medium or fine grinds, cornmeal adds texture and crunch to roasted meats, biscuits and more.
Ground cumin A southwestern staple.
Fresh coriander Also sold as Chinese parsley and cilantro.
Jalapeño peppers Although available canned and pickled, fresh jalapeños pack superior flavour.
Limes Don't be tempted by bottled lime juice; fresh lime juice tastes better and allows you to use the flavourful peel, too.
Monterey Jack cheese Hate to grate cheese? Look for shredded nacho-flavoured cheese in the dairy case.
Oregano Buy dried oregano leaves, not ground oregano for best results.
Refried beans Available in cans or easily made at home.
Rice The starch of choice in the southwest, Long grain rice is often paired with beans to create a nutritious meal.
Salsa Available in varying intensities and textures. Stock a few so that you can mix and match.
Tomatoes Fresh or canned.
Tortillas/wraps Wheat tortillas are now available in a rainbow of colours and flavours. Corn tortillas are heavier textured but more flavourful. Store either type in the freezer.
Tostados Crisp corn tortillas are used as a base for imaginative toppings.