Romeritos are rosemary-like herbs used in Mexican cuisine, often served during holidays in various dishes. They can be prepared similarly to spinach and are often served with dried shrimp patties in mole sauce. Romeritos are delicate and can be substituted with spinach.
Mexican cuisine is known for its vibrancy and earthy colors and romeritos are no exception. These wild plants are rosemary-like herbs that are considered to be very similar to baby spinach. Juicy and stringy, romeritos are often served around the holidays in various prepared dishes.
Romeritos are also known as sacred herbs in Mexico and come from the Suaeda plant genus. If desired, they can be prepared and served similar to vegetable spinach. Before using herbs in cooking, they should always be thoroughly washed and cut.
One of the most common ways to serve romeritos is in the form of patties made with dried shrimp. The shrimp is chopped up as finely as possible and powdered before being mixed into an egg-based batter. This complete concoction is formed into round patties and fried in oil. The meatballs are added to the cleaned and boiled romeritos, along with the potatoes. Many cooks also include prickly pear cactus in their recipes.
Some chefs simply use dried shrimp instead of forming patties for a quicker and easier meal. Prepared either way, the whole dish is traditionally served in mole sauce around the holidays. The dish is usually known simply as romeritos, named after the tasty green ingredient. New Year’s Day is one of the most common times to serve these patties, though they’re also popular around Christmas and Lent.
Plants can also be prepared with nutty flavoring agents. Sesame seeds are a common addition to the vegetable, as are peanuts. Almonds can provide vegetables with another layer of nutty flavor. Many different herbs and spices can also be added to shrimp pie or any other romerito dish. Garlic is a common herb joined to the plant, as are various chili peppers.
Onions are another vegetable that is often prepared from the Romerito plant. Some cooks may choose to include other vegetables than onions and potatoes. Mixing different types of nuts and spices together is a common tactic when preparing the herb.
Cooks should keep in mind that romerito is a delicate plant that not only needs careful handling, but can’t be found in most areas. The most common place to find the plant is in a Mexican specialty food store. If the herb can’t be located, most cooks agree that spinach can be substituted in recipes, even though the flavor and texture may vary slightly.
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