The Unique Appeal of Mexican and Italian Fusion

There’s an old adage that says ‘opposites attract.’ While it’s not always 100% accurate, we’ve seen it ring true for certain marriages, friendships, personality traits, animals, actors and actresses, and much more.

Take one look at the Beauty and the Beast, or Jack and Rose from Titanic, and you’ll see what we mean. 

But we’re not here to talk about our favorite movies – we’re here to talk about world-class cuisine. 

Throughout history, two of the most popular cuisines have been Mexican food and Italian food – and if you don’t believe us, try and find someone who doesn’t like at least one of them. It’s okay, we’ll wait!

On the surface, Mexican and Italian food might seem like polar opposites, but is it possible that these two victuals could come together to form one All-Star-level menu? It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

If so, then you’re in luck because such a menu does exist – and it’s called Mexican-Italian fusion. 

Mexican-Italian Fusion: A Perfect Blend of Two Powerhouse Cuisines

Mexican-Italian fusion is one of the hottest cuisines in the world right now – combining the bold and spicy ingredients that make Mexican food so unique with the rich and savory flavors that we all love about Italy. 

When done correctly, these two cuisines blend together in such a beautiful way. 

As most of us know, Mexican food is primarily known for its use of chile peppers, beans, and corn – all of which have been readily available in Mexico for nearly 10,000 years. Just think about all the corn tortillas, chipotle peppers, pico de gallo, and ground beef you can imagine!

In fact, it wasn’t until the Spanish came along in the 1500s that Mexican cuisine started to feature livestock (meat), dairy, and rice. 

And then there’s Italian food, which has a complex, yet storied history. 

Italian cuisine is primarily known for its use of olive oil, garlic, pasta, tomatoes (which actually come from Mexico), basil, and cheese. Other staples include marinara sauce, lasagna noodles, and parmesan cheese.

Since Italy was a divided country between the 6th and 19th centuries, each region was known for different things – for example, Milan had risotto and Naples was known for pizza. 

Despite the differences between Italian and Mexican food, there are a wide range of similarities that make it a no-brainer for those who like to combine the two. Let’s take a look at some of those similarities below. 

Fresh Ingredients: From the Farm to the Table

There’s something about local and fresh ingredients that bring the best out of any dish. They taste better, hold the best nutritional value, are environmentally friendly, and they help support your local farmers.

They often say – quality begins with fresh ingredients. 

At Il Toro E La Capra, we completely agree with that sentiment. 

Fresh ingredients are paramount to both Mexican and Italian food – helping to bring out the vibrant colors, fragrant aromas, and visual appeal that make these dishes so irresistible. And it’s been that way forever. 

Garlic & Tomatoes: Two Staples in Mexican and Italian Kitchens

The ingredients used in Mexican dishes vs. Italian dishes are widely different. For example, you won’t find a lot of chile peppers in traditional Italian food – just like you won’t find spaghetti on a Mexican menu. 

With that said, there are two ingredients that stand out in both kitchens: 

Garlic: while garlic originated somewhere in Asia, it’s a staple in Italian cuisine (espeically southern Italy) and is used in almost any sauce or stew, but you’ll also find it in salsa, taco seasoning, and Spanish rice.

Tomatoes: while tomatoes originated in South America, it was Mexico that cultivated and domesticated it. You’ll find it in any salsa recipe and as a taco topping, but also as a sauce on any pasta or spaghetti dish.

Without garlic and tomatoes, Mexican and Italian food would taste a lot different today – and they wouldn’t be the cuisines we’ve grown to love throughout history. Luckily, these two flavors aren’t going anywhere!

Simmering & Roasting: Techniques That Bring Out the Best of Both Worlds

We’ve talked about some of the ingredients (and where those ingredients are grown), but what we haven’t talked about yet are the various cooking techniques that are heavily used in Mexican and Italian cuisine. 

There are two techniques that stand out in both cultures: 

Simmering: using low- to medium-low heat to cook a food in liquid just below its boiling point is called simmering. Many Mexican and Italian dishes call for simmering sauces or vegetables in a broth. 

Roasting: exposing food to dry heat inside an oven or over an open fire for long periods of time is called roasting. It’s one of the best ways to cook vegetables and is a common technique in Mexico and Italy.

Simmering and roasting are two cooking techniques that help bring out the natural flavors of Mexican and Italian cuisine. That’s why you’ll never walk into a Mexican-Italian restaurant that doesn’t utilize both. 

Some of Our Favorite Mexican-Italian Dishes

Mexican-Italian cuisine might be a new concept to a lot of you, but it doesn’t have to be when you’ve got us in town. And trust us when we say one dish will have you hooked on this wonderful blend of flavors. 

For those who haven’t tried Mexican-Italian fusion before, here are three favorite dishes we serve daily:

• Pasta Sarandeada Javier Cresencio – Homemade fettuccine pasta tossed in our delicious sarandeada sauce made with dried chiles and secret aged blended spices and cherry tomatoes. 
• Pasta Ranchera – Papperdelle pasta sauteed with our amazing ranchera sauce, roasted tomatoes, shallots, cilantro and an 8oz. grilled New York steak.
• Veal Osso Bucco – Veal shank slowly braised in a reduction of Burgundy wine and savory stock with brunoised vegetables, porcini mushrooms. Served with pasta.

Of course, that’s just three of the dozens of dishes we serve here at Il Toro E La Capra. Our menu is as big as any menu in Las Vegas and we even include a wide range of traditional Mexican and Italian dishes — as well as an extensive wine selection.

Il Toro E La Capra: Mexican and Italian Fusion at Its Finest

Are you blown away by the thought of blending together the many flavors of Italy and Mexico? Do you look forward to taking that first bite of Mexican-Italian cuisine? Are you hungry for some good food today?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then you’ve come to the right place!

Welcome to Il Toro E La Capra – the No. 1 Mexican-Italian restaurant in Las Vegas. 

We are conveniently located on the corner of Sunset and Decatur, just three miles from Allegiant Stadium and seven miles from the Harry Reid International Airport. Think about us for your next family reunion, rehearsal dinner, wedding festivities, or baby shower.

Come check us out if you want a vibrant menu with a mix of classic Italian dishes, traditional Mexican dishes, Mexitalian dishes, and so much more!