State By Plate: Nayarit and Pescado Zarandeado

The land of Mexcaltitlán is simply a singular spot — not lone due to the fact that it has been designated a pueblo mágico and nicknamed “La Venezia Mexicana” but besides due to the fact that it has been posited arsenic 1 of the astir legendary sites successful Mexican past and the birthplace of 1 of the country’s signature culinary dishes, Pescado Zarandeado. 

Nayarit’s Mexcalitlán is considered by galore to beryllium the ancestral home of the Mexica, the alleged Aztecs who near their legendary homeland of “Aztlán” aft the deity Huitzilopochtli told them to question retired a caller one. They were told the caller determination would beryllium revealed via symbol: an eagle perched atop a nopal cactus with a serpent successful its beak. This prophecy yet led them to Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City). 

When it comes to Mexican fish, zarandeado is possibly the astir ubiquitous benignant of all. (TT Seng/Flickr)

As if that weren’t capable to separate Mexcaltitlán arsenic 1 of Mexico’s taste landmarks, the land municipality is besides believed to beryllium the archetypal location of pescado zarandeado, an iconic Pacific Coast seafood specialty.

The past of pescado zarandeado and however to marque it

Pescado zarandeado has a 500-year past successful Sinaloa and Nayarit, with pre-Hispanic roots. Indigenous peoples of the region, similar the Totorame, were the progenitors of this cooking method, with Mexcaltitlán identified arsenic the archetypal spot wherever it flourished. 

To marque zarandeado, 1 needs a zaranda, oregon basket, to encase the butterflied caller food truthful that it won’t autumn isolated portion being grilled. Indigenous chefs utilized mangrove wood for these baskets and arsenic substance for the fire. However, the quest to support mangrove ecosystems has led to biology regulations successful caller decades. Thus, cooks present mostly usage metallic baskets to clasp the fish, grilling them implicit charcoal.

Marinades person likewise evolved. Once food similar huachinango (red snapper), róbalo (sea bass), oregon pargo (Mexican barred snapper) person been hooked, they are traditionally marinated with ingredients specified arsenic achiote, garlic, lime juice, and brackish and pepper. However, successful modernity, different imaginable flavoring options person been added to this list, including mustard, mayonnaise, and salsa inglesa (Worcestershire sauce). 

Grilling clip varies according to the size of the fish, but it shouldn’t instrumentality longer than astir 15 minutes. Once done, the food is plated full truthful that pieces tin beryllium flaked disconnected with a fork and eaten. Cucumber, tomato, and bulb are served with the fish, arsenic are tortillas and a salsa picante (more connected the marque to take later). 

Other iconic seafood dishes successful Nayarit cuisine

Tlaxtihuilli is simply a shrimp and chile seafood soup. (Canal 22/Facebook)

The Totorames are besides credited with different seafood staple successful Nayarit and Sinaloa: tlaxtihuilli. This accepted soup, besides calved successful Mexcaltitlán, is made with boiled shrimp but flavored with ingredients similar guajillo and serrano peppers, cilantro, epazote, and lime juice. It’s fixed a thicker texture courtesy of nixtamalized maize dough (masa), which has led to its labeling arsenic a benignant of “shrimp atole.” 

If it’s not already apparent, seafood is ubiquitous successful Nayarit. Because of its implicit 180 miles of coastline, dishes similar aguachile and ceviche signifier the backbone of Nayarit’s gastronomy, with shellfish specified arsenic shrimp and oysters and food similar oversea bass, snapper, tuna, dorado, and wahoo caught and eaten successful abundance.

Aguachile is simply a Sinaloan invention, truthful its glories volition beryllium extolled erstwhile that authorities is successful the spotlight. But ceviche, chicharrón de pescado, and shrimp pozole each merit mentions arsenic distinctive and delicious determination dishes. Ceviche estilo Nayarit, for example, is made with either minced food oregon shrimp and is instantly identifiable via the inclusion of carrot on with the modular tomato, cucumber, and onion. 

Of course, Nayarit’s beloved pozole doesn’t diagnostic pork oregon chickenhearted arsenic the macromolecule but shrimp. However, food oregon shellfish similar clams and octopus tin besides beryllium used. As successful each pozoles, hominy is simply a signature ingredient. But alternatively than utilizing maize varieties similar cacahuazintle, Nayaritas similar determination heirloom maíz of the bofo oregon tabloncillo type. 

Chicharrón successful Mexico usually means pork rinds, but determination is simply a seafood mentation successful which food taxon similar cabrilla, róbalo, and tilapia are chopped into strips and deep-fried aft being coated with flour and possibly adjacent dipped successful ovum batter. Ideally, these delicacies are served successful taco signifier with salsa and a compression of lime.

The communicative of Salsa Huichol

Salsa Huichol: The small Nayarita condiment with a large flavor. (Salsa Huichol/Facebook)

The 1 happening each Nayarita culinary delicacies person successful communal is that they sensation amended with a small Salsa Huichol added. The marque began from humble beginnings successful Tepic successful 1949. However, laminitis and erstwhile bricklayer Don Roberto López Flores managed to physique an empire with the assistance of a household look and 40 pesos of capital, with the archetypal outlays for a manus grinder and a fewer kilos of cascabel chiles sourced from Indigenous Huichol growers from Mesa del Nayar, positive a manus capper to adjacent the bare Pacífico brew bottles helium was utilizing for packaging.

Once the bottles were filled, helium would pedal astir connected his bicycle to merchantability them to section bars and restaurants. It’s hard to ideate helium ever had overmuch difficulty. The condiment is beautifully textured, and its spiciness — courtesy of cascabel and habanero chiles — is balanced by respective blase flavors. 

According to legend, helium got the look from his great-grandmother. If so, she had exquisitely cosmopolitan tastes. Some ingredients are secret, but the ones we cognize see Brazilian pinkish pepper, Madagascar cloves, Iranian cumin, and an oregano assortment from Durango, which is earthier, much pungent, and citrusy than the Mediterranean version. Iodized brackish and vinegar besides play important roles.

“We tin alteration the representation connected the box, the lid, the accumulation technology, but the look is untouchable!” Don Roberto told Animal Gourmet.

By the clip helium passed distant successful 2019 astatine the property of 86, helium was a blistery condiment fable arsenic indelibly associated with Nayarit and the state’s beloved pescado zarandeado. Today, the institution continues to merchantability its products astir the globe, turning retired implicit 100,000 bottles regular from its office successful Xalisco.

Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em

Nayarit is besides notably the largest tobacco-growing authorities successful Mexico, producing a robust 84% of the nationalist total. This includes baccy rolled successful immoderate of the world’s astir celebrated cigaret brands, similar Marlboro. So, if you’re fond of the aged saying, “después de un taco, un buen tabaco,” you tin airy 1 up aft your adjacent Nayarit-style feast. 

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas section adept for the USA Today question website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos question guidebook and a contributor to galore websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related contented and manner features focused connected food, vino and golf.