Most Popular Foods in Texas

Fans of red meat, chicken and all things spicy will find their culinary heaven in Texas as this vast Southern US state takes in influences from German, Mexican, Native American and Creole cuisine and blends them all to absolutely delicious effect. As the state is so large, it is no wonder that dishes vary dramatically from region to region, with Southern parts taking in strong influences from Mexico and adding a spicy kick to many recipes, whilst 'All American' cooking is evident in dishes such as the enormous sourdough 'biscuits' that may come dunked in gravy or smeared in honey or butter. Although beef is a big part of Texan cooking, the fried chicken steak is considered by many to be the real national dish.

The Texas Part Of Tex-Mex Cooking

Most of us have heard of Tex-Mex dishes such as nachos, fajitas and tacos, but how many of us could point out which of these have their origins in Texas and which in Mexico. In truth, Tex Mex cooking owes a culinary debt to both Texas and Mexico, taking traditional spiced Mexican dishes and corn or flour pancakes and adding US-influenced ingredients such as ground beef, melted cheese and cooling agents such as sour cream.

The Legendary Texas Barbeque

Texans love their barbeques and no trip to the state is complete without eating food served hot off the grill. Smoked meats are always firm barbeque favourites and beef is the most common meat, unlike in other US states, sausages are more likely to be made of beef than pork and smoked brisket is another popular barbeque choice. The culinary influence of European settlers, combined with African American and Native American cooking ingredients and methods, can all be detected in the unique and delicious Texan BBQ.

Texan Chilli Con Carne

Texan Chilli con Carne is a deliciously rich, spicy dish, but differs from Mexican chilli in that it does not include beans. Although chilli-making methods vary across the Lone Star State, as Texas is known, good quality meat chunks, tomatoes, onions and spices are the key ingredients in almost all Texan chillis. The resulting chilli is also used to make Frito pie - a dish that uses the Fritos brand corn tortilla chip to form a pie that is truly unique to Texas and a popular dish at informal social gatherings. Corn tortilla chips are also used to accompany delicious, creamy guacamole, made using the giant avocados that were first known here as 'Alligator Pears'. In their larger form, corn tortillas are used to make tacos where the corn crescent is filled with salad and chicken or meat, plus grated cheese and toppings such as sour cream or the tangy local version of salsa.

Vegetarians In Texas

The meat loving Texans are not known for their fondness of vegetarian dishes, but a vegetarian can still eat well in the state, especially those who are fond of spicy foods. Houevos Rancheros, which is a spicy scrambled egg dish, is a menu staple, whilst bean and chilli stews, meat-free tacos and enchilladas filled with veggies, tomato sauce and topped with cheese are all filling meat-free dishes.

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