Justine Schofield's top 10 Mexican recipes (2024)

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Duck and orange carnitasTender duck meat. Orange and chilli salsa. Warm and soft tortillas. These hearty carnitas are just what you need on a crisp Sunday afternoon. Set aside two hours to cook the duck meat until it falls off the bones.

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Beef cheek taquitosA go-to recipe when you're feeding a large group or hosting a party. Cook the beef cheeks before your guests arrive, then serve with avocado, pickled onions, a dollop of sour cream and La Banderita flour tortillas. These soft and fresh tortillas are crafted using traditional Mexican techniques passed down through generations.

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Baked eggs with jalapeno white sauceA quick and easy winter warmer, this baked egg dish can be made in under half an hour. Divide spinach and béchamel sauce between ramekins, then crack in the eggs to bake. Put a spicy twist on béchamel sauce by adding jalapeno and chipotle into the mix.

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Lamb birria tacosBest cooked on a lazy weekend, these nourishing tacos take three hours to create (not to mention overnight chilling time for the shanks). The end result? Juicy shredded lamb and cucumber salsa wrapped up in flour tortillas and fried in lamb fat until crispy. Perfect.

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Charred eggplant tacosFor the vegetarians among us, there's always eggplant tacos. Justine's reliable recipe is created with homemade avocado cream, eggplant brushed in tomato basting sauce, and corn tortillas. Garnish with almonds to add texture.

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Scallop tacosHere comes that aforementioned blast of Mexican colour. The seared scallops are a great visual base for bright charred corn, chopped long red chilli and shredded purple cabbage. As for the tacos, Justine says: "Heat up some of the La Banderita street tacos for about 30 seconds on each side, just in a warm pan without any oil."

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Chicken taquitos with green salsa Like the Mexican version of spring rolls, these BBQ chicken tacquitos are the ultimate crowd-pleasers. Switch up traditional tomato salsa for homemade green salsa. Just blend all the ingredients until smooth for a zesty, refreshing dip.

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Tortilla soupSoup is synonymous with comfort food, and perfect for the cooler season. Justine's spice-heavy recipe sees pulled chicken paired with a delicious tomato mixture. Serve with golden and crisp tortilla strips.

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Braised beans with soft boiled eggs Another vegetarian favourite, this Mexican dish swaps meat for kidney beans and lentils doused in spices and honey. It's stuffed with lightly caramelised vegetables and soft boiled eggs and served with warm tacos on the side, making for a wholesome and satiating dinner.

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