Let's taco 'bout it

A new Mexican delivery kitchen is making moles and salsas using the same mortar and pestle that we use to make curry and chutney

What is common between India and Mexico? A shared love for chiles (called chilli here). Similar climates-mostly hot or tropical-result in similar foods. Maybe that is why when one compares regional Indian curries and masalas with local Mexican mole-a traditional marinade and sauce in Mexican cuisine-there is a resemblance.

Enchilladas

A delivery and take-away kitchen in Worli called The Mexican Box hopes to offer an authentic Azteca Mexican food experience (Mexican food is a mix of Mayan, Aztec and Spanish cuisines).

The menu is extensive and expensive. Choices range from the classic guacamole to some twisted versions, and about seven varieties of taco. There are house specials including enchiladas, the fajita box, Mexican pizza, burrito and deep fried chimichangas. Be careful before ordering the salsas; they can blow your mind with their spice levels. The menu also offers an elaborate list of options for vegans, including the burrito box, cheese and bean quesadilla, spicy bean soup and vegan pizza.

Grilled Prawn Taco

For a mid-week lunch, we decide to try one dish from each segment. The heavy spread includes La Papa (Rs 390); baked potato smothered in creamy corn compote, cheese and jalapeño. Grilled prawn taco (Rs 600), which serves two people, comes with black beans, avocado slices, chimichurri sauce and jalapeños. While La Papa turned out to be a mediocre preparation due to an overload of corn, we enjoyed the prawn taco. The Mexican hot sauce and chilli powder worked wonders.

Heartthrob

The delivery time did do a bit of damage to the taco shell they didn’t crack when we folded them. Delay equals soggy. The classic chicken enchiladas (Rs 630) are soft flour tortillas with cheese and chicken, our long-time favourite. Even if you’ve never tried Mexican food, you’ll love these. The rice was creamy and the cheese sauce perfectly seasoned. One portion is enough for four medium eaters.

The fajita box grilled chicken (Rs 650) is a humongous, complicated package that needs to be assembled before you dive in. It’s tasty but requires work. If you are short on time or lazy, skip it.

We ended our meal with the heartthrob (R450), a heart-shaped dessert made from dark chocolate. The mousse cake was gooey and the chocolate cream melt-in-the-mouth.

Interestingly, the menu also offers sangria and other pre-mixed Mexican, non-alcoholic drinks (Rs 275). These include the margarita, the house of bloody maria, and kiwi lime cucumber mojito. Drizzle in your choice of alcohol and sip.

If you are looking to try something novel and don’t mind spending, give this a go. Buen Provecho!

Order: 9321890033
Follow: @the.mexicanbox; Instagram

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