Mexican??

Every Sunday, I make a roast chicken and then the next day I make chicken and cheese enchiladas with the left over chicken.  So I make sure to keep the corn tortillas on hand.

MeShell, would you share your enchilada sauce recipe?? I am very interested!

They do have those corn tortillas at Tesco, but as a previous poster stated - they're not quite the same. They're more like a flour tortilla with come cornmeal thrown in.  I brought back a pack of 30 when I came back from a visit to the states which I froze. Those won't last too long though.

They have Old El Paso brand refried beans at Tesco. And in the Afro-carribean section, tinned black beans... The enchilada sauce they sell, eh. Not so great. The taco seasoning is okay, but I usually just make my own anyway.

There are quite a few Mexican restaurants around in the UK, but like historyenne said, they basically taste nothing like real Mexican food.

If, like me, you grew up in the UK and had never eaten real Mexican before, you might like them, but it seems the food just doesn't compare to Mexican in the US. I lived in New Mexico for 18 months and I really liked the Mexican and New Mexican food there, but I also like the 'Mexican' food in the UK... even if they don't taste anything alike in comparison .

I haven't eaten real refried beans since I spent a month in Guatemala in 2007 and I don't think I've ever seen corn tortillas in the UK (usually they're all flour tortillas).

Note: I would stay clear of Marks and Spencers' so-called 'enchiladas' though... I bought some a few months ago and they tasted nothing like any enchilada I'd ever eaten. They contained chicken strips, a creamy Cajun-flavoured sauce () and no spiciness at all!! I could only eat half of one before I gave up and threw the rest away.

Well I figured it wouldn't be quite the same. I will likely try and attempt whatever the menu might be in the UK, maybe I'll get lucky    However I will stay clear of Marks and Spencers.. haha thank you!!

Old El Paso is available here. They have taco kits, corn tortillas, refried beans, etc. It will do in a pinch. But be aware that the taco seasoning in these packages isn't quite right. I prefer to make my own and just buy the taco shells. The salsa here isn't very good. It would be better to make your own.

Old El Paso??? Nu uhhh!!!  That makes me feel a bit more safe.

Sadly, not widely available enough.  They had dried black beans for a while (no canned, and no pintos of any kind) in our local Sainsburys, but they have stopped carrying them (I bought the last bag for 20p!) along with the Amy's organic frozen enchiladas and burritos, which I really miss. 

Oh man, I thought I could at least find some pinto beans to blend, arghhh 

The Old El Paso enchilada kits are actually really good, in fact we are back in the US and still have my in-laws bring them over from the UK when they come, and then keep them as a treat We like them better than the ones in the US.

But in general the Mexican in the UK is not good!

However I will stay clear of Marks and Spencers.. haha thank you!!

Well, I wouldn't stay clear of everything in Marks and Spencers... so far, it's only been the enchiladas that were horrid (most of their food is gorgeous). I really like their ready-made fajitas, but again, they are not spicy in the slightest and like most Mexican food here, they don't taste much like the real thing.

MissJenn, you can order pretty much anything you need for Mexican from the MexGrocer online, I think someone posted a link earlier. But don't worry, you will find lots of food to love in the UK, anyway! I make my own taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, and stuff like that. The Old El Paso corn tortillas are fine for enchiladas and things, and the taco shells are fine. There is enough to work with, really. But when you move, I would suggest bringing over a few ingredients with you that you really love or think may be hard to find here. If you want to know if anything is available, just take a look at the websites for Sainsburys, Asda, and Tesco and that should give you a pretty good indication.

Oh man, I thought I could at least find some pinto beans to blend, arghhh 

Don't despair! It depends on where you live and how well-stocked your local supermarket is. Ours has dried pinto beans all the time.

Here ya go...It doesn't take long at all to make this...and it is spicy and tasty..you can add more chilli powder if you want a bit more spice..


1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced (I use the garlic in a tube)
1/2 onion, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 1/2 teaspoons chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried parsley
175g (6 oz) passata
350ml (12 fl oz) water
(I use a whole jar of passata and cut down on the water)

Preparation method
1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the onion, oregano, chilli powder, basil, black pepper, salt, cumin, parsley, and passata.
2. Mix together and then stir in the water. Bring to the boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

I cook it abit longer to reduce down and make it abit more like tomato paste..sometimes just use less water

If you know you are going to make enchiladas sometime soon make it up and refridge it and let the flavors meld together..

Don't despair! It depends on where you live and how well-stocked your local supermarket is. Ours has dried pinto beans all the time.

True. I live in the least populated county in England out in a tiny village, so I don't always get access to things that the others on here have access to. It really does depend on where you live. Still, I find a lot of unexpected things - and often I find I have just been overlooking some things at my local supermarkets. 

Yum! Thanks MeShell

MissJenn, you can order pretty much anything you need for Mexican from the MexGrocer online, I think someone posted a link earlier. But don't worry, you will find lots of food to love in the UK, anyway! I make my own taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, and stuff like that. The Old El Paso corn tortillas are fine for enchiladas and things, and the taco shells are fine. There is enough to work with, really. But when you move, I would suggest bringing over a few ingredients with you that you really love or think may be hard to find here. If you want to know if anything is available, just take a look at the websites for Sainsburys, Asda, and Tesco and that should give you a pretty good indication.

Thank you Jewlz!! I completely forgot that me and my husband actually went to Asda when I visited. I found the fajita kit and pretty much begged him to try it. This was before he engulfed the taco bueno we have here  We found some already cooked chicken and onions to fry up.. it wasn't too bad actually! Had to buy some tabasco for flavor..   

For those of you in and around Leeds, there is a brand new (just a couple of weeks) Mexican place on Kirkstall Rd, a bit past the abbey on the way into Leeds city centre.  We haven't tried it yet--will let you know how it is when we do!

For those of you in and around Leeds, there is a brand new (just a couple of weeks) Mexican place on Kirkstall Rd, a bit past the abbey on the way into Leeds city centre.  We haven't tried it yet--will let you know how it is when we do!

Hmmm, sounds good! Could be combined with a film.