America's Test Kitchen Season 21 Episode 1 A Taste of Mexico

In Season 21 of America's Test Kitchen, the premiere episode titled A Taste of Mexico takes the viewers on a culinary journey of Mexican food. The episode begins with Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster introducing the Mexican cuisine, its flavors, and ingredients. They highlight how Mexican food is more than just tacos and burritos and how it's based on a diverse set of regional dishes that are unique in their taste and preparation.

The episode starts by featuring a recipe for a delicious green chili and chicken posole. They explain how the dish is usually eaten at big gatherings and how the flavors of hominy, chicken, and chili work together to create a traditional Mexican broth that's hearty and delicious. The hosts discuss the various variations of posole that can be found in Mexico and how the dish has evolved over the years.

Next up, the show highlights a recipe for the best-ever pork carnitas. The hosts explain what makes a good carnita, how to select the right cut of pork, and how to cook the meat to perfection. They also demonstrate how to prepare a delicious tomatillo salsa that goes well with the carnitas, and how to properly assemble a taco with these flavorful fillings.

Moving on to the next recipe, the hosts showcase how to make a refreshing cucumber and jicama salad. They explain how the salad is not only a great side dish but also a perfect appetizer that can be served with tortilla chips. They demonstrate how to slice and dice both jicama and cucumbers and how to make a tasty dressing that enhances the flavors of the salad.

In the fourth and final recipe of the episode, the show features a delicious dessert called Tres Leches Cake. The hosts explain how this dessert is a sweet and creamy sponge cake that's soaked in a rich milk sauce, which gives it a moist and melt-in-your-mouth texture. They demonstrate how to make the cake from scratch, how to properly bake it, and how to soak it in the milk sauce. They also show a few decoration techniques that can be used to make this dessert look even more appealing.

Throughout the episode, the hosts share interesting facts about Mexican food, its origin, and regional variances. They highlight the importance of selecting the right ingredients, making informed decisions while cooking, and not being afraid to improvise in the kitchen.

The show also gets a visit from chef Pati Jinich, who shares her experiences and knowledge of Mexican cuisine. She talks about her love for regional Mexican dishes, the importance of using authentic spices and ingredients, and how she integrates the flavors of Mexico in her own cooking.

In addition to the recipes, the episode also features kitchen equipment reviews, where the hosts test and evaluate several products that can be useful while cooking Mexican food. They also share tips and techniques to make the cooking process easier and more efficient, like how to use a mortar and pestle properly, how to select and store different types of chili powders, and how to cook different types of rice.

Overall, the episode A Taste of Mexico is a must-watch for anyone who's interested in Mexican cuisine or wants to learn how to cook traditional Mexican dishes. The show does an excellent job of showcasing the diversity of Mexican cuisine and highlights the importance of using authentic ingredients and proper cooking techniques to make delicious and flavorful dishes.