Liven Up Day of the Dead Menus!
Dia De Los Muertos aka The Day of the Dead is coming up on the 1st of November! Although commonly associated with Mexico, this holiday is actually celebrated all over Central and South America, meaning chefs have a broad range of countries to take inspiration from when creating special themed menus.
There are several key ingredients used across multiple dishes which chefs should stock up in the first instance.
Tortillas
Although tortillas are extremely versatile, deciding what type of tortilla and what size is largely dictated by intended use.
Flour
- 30cm / 12” Flour – Burrito or Large Quesadilla
- 25cm / 10” Flour – Regular Quesadilla
- 20cm / 8” Flour – Sandwiches and Schools
- 15cm / 6” Flour – Fajitas
- 10cm / 4” Flour – Street Food Style Taco
Corn
- 30cm / 12” Corn – GF Burrito of Quesadilla
- 15cm / 6” Corn – Soft Shell Taco
- 15cm / 6” Corn (FRIED) – Hard Shell Taco / Tostada / Taco Basket
- 10cm / 4” Corn – Street Food Style Taco
Top tip: Corn tortillas also have the advantage of being naturally low in fat, salt, and sugar, and are suitable for plant-based diners.
Cooking Ingredients
Achiote Paste – Featuring a vibrant reddish-orange colour and a mild, earthy, peppery flavour, achiote is made from Annatto seeds. It’s predominantly used with meats, sauces, and stews. Learn more about this authentic ingredient here.
Chipotle – Did you know… Chipotle is actually smoked jalapeño? Choose from pure chipotle sauce, or whole chipotles in Abodo sauce – a combination of chilli powder, vinegar, and garlic. This forms a versatile base to many Mexican sauces.
Garnishes and Condiments
Pink Pickled Onion – This vibrant addition adds a subtle sourness to dishes to add depth and create a full flavour profile. We like it best adorning tacos, in sandwiches, salads, or even on avocado toast to provide some contrast.
Roasted Red Salsa – Salsa is a staple. Serve it as a dip on the side or use it as a base to customise your own unique sauce. Funnybones’ newest variant is made to a traditional Venezuelan recipe and coarsely blended with roasted vegetables, herbs, spices, and mild chilli to give it a delicate balance of smoky, sweet, and spicy.
Guacamole – Going hand-in-hand with salsa and sour cream, a high-quality guac can make or break Central and Southern American dishes. Our La Mexicana Premium Guacamole is made with Hass avocado and offers a great balance of aromatic garlic and zingy citrus.
Specialised Finished Products
For chefs that want to tap into this seasonal opportunity (or the broader demand for internationally inspired cuisine year-round!), but don’t have the time to create dishes from scratch, adding a few specialised finished products is a great solution – such as Funnybones’ taquitos!
Translating into “small taco”, taquitos are miniature tortillas, rolled around a filling then fried to result in a crispy exterior. Typically made with corn tortillas, our version uses flour tortillas for a higher quality. Choose from medium-spiced Fajita Chicken – diced chicken, bell peppers, and onion, coated in the vibrant zing of fajita spices – or vegetarian-friendly hot Jalapeño Cheese – featuring a blend of creamy, stretchy cheese and herbs, with punchy green jalapeño. Also in development and soon to join these two iconic flavours is Funnybones’ hot Spicy Beef taquito, filled with minced beef, peppers, and onions.
Top tip: Serve with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole to dip in pairs, or a large portion to share!
Desserts
Finally, ensure guests leave on a sweet high with a traditional dessert.
Churros – The obvious choice, though these fried treats actually originate from Spain and Portugal. We won’t tell if you don’t! They’re great for sharing and can easily be upsold with a trio of dips for an indulgent treat. We recommend chocolate sauce, dulce de leche, and maple syrup.
Need more ideas? Get in touch with our friendly Funnybones customer service team!
Phone: 01707 321 234
Email: info@gkco.com