5 Best Mexican Comfort Food Recipes

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Nothing comes close to coming home to food made by your mother or grandmother. It's always a gastronomical experience that makes a mark in one's memory, creating a nostalgic yearning for authentic, Mexican dishes that soothe not just one's tummy, but also the soul. Here are some comfort food recipes that you can come back to anytime.

1. Nachos. According to Saveur, the pickled Japalenos that a lot of people have grown to love and be familiar with first gained popularity back in the 1950s, about the same time that nachos became popular. This simple nacho recipe by Saveur involves eight yellow corn tortillas, two cups of Monterey jack cheese, and a jar of pickled jalapenos. For those who want to pack a punch, you can also add chopped tomatoes, ground beef, and even shredded cabbage.

2. Mole de Olla. This beef and veggie mole stew is delightful and filling, and great for a family get together. This recipe from Pati's Mexican Table requires three pounds of beef stew meat or beef shank meat, white onion, fresh mint, ancho chiles, pasilla chiles, ripe tomatoes, tomatillos, sesame seeds, chayote squash, zucchini, green beans, fresh corn, and cilantro. Get the recipe here.

3. Pozole de Frijol. This amazing vegetarian version of the frijole is by Sweet Life, and features dried chilli de Arbol or guajillo chilis, diced tomatoes, pinto beans, hominy, and lime. It only takes 30 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook, so there's time for a lot of family bonding in between. Check out the recipe here.

4. Lime and Avocado-dressed Shredded Beef. It's not Latin if there's no avocado! Here's a recipe by El Paso restaurant owner David Jurado, that features tender shredded brisket salad. All you need it flat-cut beef brisket, jack cheese, lime juice, cilantro, chopped canned chipotle chiles en adobo, scallions, medium tomatoes, warmed corn tortillas, an avocado, and salt and spices to taste. Get the full recipe at Saveur.

5. Mexican Pulled Chicken and Beans. Here's a healthier alternative to pork and beans. This is an easy recipe involving slow-cooked chipotle chicken that is cheap and easy to make. All you need is bone-in chicken thighs, chipotle paste, chopped tomatoes, onions, black beans, kidney beans, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, and a large bag of tortilla chips. Get the full recipe at BBC Good Food.

Bonus recipe: Chilli con Carne. Another great recipe from BBC Good Food, this "Chilli con Carne" only takes 50 minutes and is easy to make. It features lean minced beef, chopped tomatoes, marjoram, tomato puree, red kidney beans, long grain rice, soured cream, and hot chilli powder. Get the full recipe here.