Plus her favorite ways to use tequila in this exclusive interview.
Her favorite brand isGran Centenario, even before their fitting partnership together.
Plus, learn more about the chefs hosting tips for beginner cooks, her No.
Photo:Courtesy of Gran Centenario and Pati Jinich
1 recommended dish to make for a crowd and more below.
EatingWell:What’s a dish you would recommend for beginner home cooks to make, especially for guests?
All you oughta do is heat and then add flour or corn tortillas.
Tacos are simple, fun and easy, and people will always be happy with tacos no matter what.
EatingWell:Do you have any hosting tips for beginners?
Jinich:You have to have something to eat and something to drink ready, for sure.
Have your guests participate with you.
EatingWell:What are your top three pantry staples?
Jinich:In my house we cannot live without chipotles in adobo sauce.
So they are always in my pantry.
Next is pinto or black beans.
Sometimes I’m a pinto bean girl, sometimes I’m a black bean girl.
We go through stages but either pinto or black, we’re always eating beans.
And we eat a lot of rice too.
EatingWell:What made you decide to partner with Gran Centenario?
Jinich:I have built my career around sharing the Mexico that I love and miss.
One of the most iconic symbols that Mexicans have is tequila, and the No.
1 tequila in Mexico is, no doubt about it, Gran Centenario.
It’s a tequila that comes from the Jaliscan Highlands.
I just love working with Gran Centenario because they’re as proud of being Mexican as I am.
EatingWell:Your go-to tequila cocktail?
EatingWell:The most underrated way to use tequila, whether in a drink or recipe?
Jinich:I think people take for granted or don’t appreciate how good tequila is on its own.
I think we’re past the time where people needed to do shots with soda.
Tequila is so good on the rocks when its good quality.
I think that’s underrated.
Something else that’s underrated is tequila for cooking and baking.
That’s another underrated way of using tequila.
EatingWell:What’s your favorite vegetable and your favorite way to prepare it?
Jinich:I love nopalitos.
I love cactus paddles.
I just had nopalitos for breakfast and cleaned the bowl.
Some people aren’t that familiar with cactus paddles or nopalitos, but Mexicans, we adore them.
I love cooking them Mexican-style with onion, tomato and jalapenos.
EatingWell:Favorite way to cook your eggs?
Jinich:I’m obsessed with eggs.
Soft-boiled is my weakness.
Then I’ll do sticks of toast and dunk it in and eat it just like that.
But I also like to eat eggs scrambled in every possible way with red onion, jalapeno and spinach.
There’s just so many ways with eggs.
I think it’s the most incredible, versatile, affordable ingredient.
EatingWell:What does “eating well” mean to you?
Jinich:Eating well, for me, means eating balanced.
It means not abstaining from things I love and not punishing categories of foods.
