Cinco de Mayo (which means “Fifth of May” in Spanish) is a holiday commemorating the Battle of Puebla in 1862, where an outnumbered Mexican army thwarted the advancing French from occupying the town of Puebla de Los Angeles. This day has become a symbol of pride for the Mexican people and showcases the core values of their proud nation. It is a day to celebrate Mexican strength, heart, resilience, and a rich culture that continues to flourish. One of the pillars of this cultural identity is of course, food.
In honour of this day, our very own chef – and a native of Mexico – María Garza says:
“For those of us outside of Mexico, the Battle of Puebla reminds us of how proud we are to be Mexican, of our heritage and our identity. Celebrating with our food and family brings us closer to home.”
To create your own feast for Cinco de Mayo, discover some delicious recipes crafted by María herself! For everything you need to create your own authentic dishes, visit your local Farm Boy and check out our flyer for some fuego deals! Let us take you on an inspiring culinary journey where you can enjoy a taste of the true Mexico.
Blog Overview
- Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that occurs on May 5, to commemorate the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
- Cinco de Mayo has become a symbol of pride for the Mexican people.
- It’s a holiday that celebrates Mexican culture, including the vibrant cuisine.
- Explore 14 delicious Mexican recipes for your own Cinco de Mayo celebration!
- Tacos, tostadas, esquites, and more can be made with fresh ingredients found at Farm Boy!
- Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free recipe ideas.
Cinco de Mayo Snacks, Sips, & Sides
Grilled Mexican Style Street Corn
A popular Mexican street food, elotes, or street corn, is a portable, flavourful snack. Fresh cobs of corn are ideal, making this a beloved summer staple (but we also think it’s Cinco de Mayo-approved).
We used our Farm Boy™ Cotija Cheese for an authentic salty and tangy flavour, but you can also use feta and achieve a similar taste. Cheesy, salty, spicy, and smoky, this recipe will far surpass the classic butter-and-salt topping at your next cookout.
Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Mayonnaise, Farm Boy™ 14% Sour Cream, Farm Boy™ Cotija Cheese, Farm Boy™ Organic Chili Powder, Farm Boy™ Fleur de Sel.
Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
For a mess-free alternative to elotes, why not try whipping up esquites? Esquites are simply the off-the-cob version of elotes served in a cup. You still get the same rich, creamy flavour, pops of sweet corn, brightness of lime, and heat from the chili.
If you’re hosting a Cinco de Mayo party, having ready-to-grab sides like this one can make things a lot easier. To make it vegan, simply swap in Farm Boy™ Vegan Mayonnaise Type Dressing, dairy-free sour cream, and Farm Boy™ Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative.
Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Mayonnaise, Farm Boy™ 18% Sour Cream, Farm Boy™ Organic Lime Juice, Farm Boy™ Organic Chili Powder, Farm Boy™ Cayenne Pepper, Farm Boy™ Cotija Cheese.
Green Shrimp Aguachile
A classic seafood dish from the western coast of Mexico, it’s aguachile! Similar to ceviche, this no-cook recipe uses a tangy lime, cilantro, and chili sauce to “cook” our Argentinian Shrimp as it rests.
While it’s often enjoyed as an appetizer, you can also fix a big bowl for a delightfully spicy meal. Perfect for the summer, this cold dinner only brings the heat when it comes to flavour.
Dietary: Pescatarian, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Raw Peeled Deveined Frozen Argentinian Shrimp, Farm Boy™ Fleur de Sel, Farm Boy™ Natural Tortilla Chips.
Mexican Style Corn Ribs
BBQ alert! These corn ribs are the perfect appetizer or side for a fuego feast. Simply cut your cobs in half and quarter each piece to form your “ribs”. Season them with your favourite Mexican-style Farm Boy seasonings and toss with olive oil. (We like our Taco Seasoning or Fajita Seasoning best for this recipe.)
Then, grill your corn ribs until thoroughly cooked with some nice patches of char. Slather with mayonnaise, a sprinkle of cotija cheese, a fresh squeeze of lime, and enjoy!
Dietary: Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Taco Seasoning, Farm Boy™ Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Farm Boy™ Mayonnaise, Farm Boy™ Organic Chili Powder, Farm Boy™ Cotija Cheese, Farm Boy™ Chipotle Mayonnaise.
Strawberry Mojito Kombucha Mocktail
Enjoy sipping on this thirst-quenching twist on a classic Mexican cocktail. This refreshing drink features Farm Boy™ Organic Canadian Berry Kombucha, which is brewed in small batches, alongside fresh strawberries, zingy limes, and fragrant mint.
To transform this recipe from mocktail to cocktail, simply add 1.5 ounces of white rum to your glass before topping with the kombucha.
Dietary: Vegan, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Organic Canadian Berry Kombucha, Fresh Berries.
Cinco de Mayo Main Dishes
Wild Mushroom Tacos
Who doesn’t love a good taco? Skip the meat and cook up this delicious recipe that’s made with assorted wild mushrooms. For this dish, we opted for king oyster, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms for a depth of umami flavour.
Top them with your preferred condiments, like cheese, veggies, salsa, and fresh lime and serve on our authentic, locally made corn tortillas. “Taco” ‘bout a flavourful fiesta for Cinco de Mayo!
Dietary: Vegetarian or Vegan, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Taco Seasoning, Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas, Farm Boy™ Cotija Cheese or Farm Boy™ Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative, Farm Boy™ Fresh Mild Salsa.
Huevos Rancheros
A classic Mexican breakfast to celebrate the holiday, these huevos rancheros are hearty, satisfying, and a delicious way to use any leftover ham you may have. (No leftover ham? No problem! Deli-style sliced ham also works well in this recipe. Ask a Team Member at our Deli counter to slice it thick.)
For added authentic flavour, garnish this breakfast dish with our Cotija Cheese. Salty, tangy, and crumbly, it pairs perfectly with this recipe for a match made in flavour heaven. Finish with two kinds of salsa for a bit of added spice.
Dietary: Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Vegetable Cooking Oil, Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas, Farm Boy™ Cotija Cheese, Farm Boy™ Fresh Hot Salsa, Farm Boy™ Fresh Mild Salsa.
Pork Carnitas
A popular ingredient in Mexican cooking, carnitas is made from tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork. (We used boneless pork shoulder.) Low and slow is the way to go to get this taco filling fork-tender. If you’re planning to serve a crowd for Cinco de Mayo, this is the recipe to use. Prep it the day before so it’s ready to go when it’s time to party!
If you happen to have any leftovers (unlikely), try using this pork carnitas recipe alongside some rice and beans for a simple, satisfying dish.
Dietary: Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Orange Juice, Farm Boy™ Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth, Farm Boy™ Organic Ground Cumin, Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas, Farm Boy™ Fresh Hot Salsa.
Grilled Fish Tacos
If you have a tabletop grill or it’s mild enough to fire up the BBQ, we suggest making this recipe! Marinate our Farm Boy™ Wild Caught Mahi Mahi fillets overnight to imbue them with the best flavour for a juicy, tender bite.
Fish tacos can be a bit underrated when it comes to Mexican dishes. We love how bright and zesty this recipe is, as well as how convenient it is to prepare. Flaky and flavourful, we love topping it with crunchy cabbage and a creamy sauce for an explosion of taste and texture.
Dietary: Pescatarian, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Garlic Flowers, Farm Boy™ Wild Caught Mahi Mahi, Farm Boy™ Chipotle Mayonnaise, Farm Boy™ 14% Sour Cream, Farm Boy™ Pico de Gallo, Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Sheet pan recipes are a no-brainer when you need an easy dinner idea for a crowd on Cinco de Mayo. Simply chop up all the veggies and chicken, season them directly on the pan, cook, and enjoy! (Cover your pan in aluminum foil first for an even faster cleanup.)
This recipe cuts down on dishes as well as time, and is a great one for the kiddos to create their own fajitas at the table. If you have leftovers, serve them over a batch of rice for delicious fajita bowls. (Short on time? Use our Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa or Organic Jasmine Rice, which cook in just one minute!)
Dietary: Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Garlic Flowers, Farm Boy™ Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Farm Boy™ Fajita Seasoning, Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas, Farm Boy™ Guacamole, Farm Boy™ 14% Sour Cream, Farm Boy™ Fresh Mild Salsa.
Mexican Molletes
Start your Cinco de Mayo first thing in the morning with this easy molletes recipe! Molletes are an open-faced sandwich made with refried beans and cheese, popular in Mexican cuisine. It’s a dish that’s served hot and is simple enough for even novice cooks.
While this recipe uses our perfectly seasoned Chorizo Artisan Sausage, you can easily make it vegetarian or vegan. Swap our that chorizo for our Farm Boy™ Plant Based Chorizo Veggie Ground and Farm Boy™ Mozzarella Style Shredded Cheese Alternative.
Dietary: N/A
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Virgin Cold-Pressed Sunflower Oil, Farm Boy™ Chorizo Artisan Sausage, Farm Boy™ Classic Refried Pinto Beans, Farm Boy™ Classic Cheese Blend Shredded Cheese, Farm Boy™ Pico de Gallo.
Chimichurri Shrimp
Originally used in Argentinian cuisine as well as Brazilian, Uruguayan, and Paraguayan, chimichurri has since been adopted by many Latin American cultures. This sauce is both herbaceous and spicy. Our twist for this recipe uses plenty of fresh cilantro and parsley as well as chili peppers and jalapeño for an added kick.
An easy and flavourful dish for Cinco de Mayo or even a busy weeknight, this seafood recipe can be served over rice or noodles for a heartier bite. If you have any leftover sauce, chimichurri also goes great with steak, chicken, and salmon.
Dietary: Pescatarian, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Organic Crushed Chili Peppers, Farm Boy™ Raw 31/40 Shrimp, Farm Boy™ Basmati Rice.
Black Bean Tostadas
There are open-faced sandwiches and then there are tostadas. In Spanish, “tostada” means “toasted”, and the corn tortillas in this recipe get a little heat from the frying pan to make them nice and crispy.
To get the most flavour out of the black beans in this recipe, be sure not to drain them. Mash them with their liquid instead to get the best texture and taste. Topped with our Vegan Feta-Style Cheese Alternative, these tostadas are a great source of fibre, protein, and iron.
Dietary: Vegan, Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas, Farm Boy™ Avocado Oil Cooking Spray, Farm Boy™ Organic Black Beans, Farm Boy™ Organic Chili Powder, Farm Boy™ Pico de Gallo, Farm Boy™ Vegan Feta Style Cheese Alternative, Farm Boy™ Fresh Mild Salsa.
Crispy Pork Belly Chicharrόn
Crispy fried pork belly or “chicharrόn” is a popular dish in many countries like Mexico, Dominican Republic, Spain, and the Philippines. Normally, chicharrόns require a lengthy, involved process, but with the help of your air fryer, you can whip up this authentic dish in under an hour!
For this dish, we opted to serve it family-style as an appetizer or light meal—perfect for a get-together like Cinco de Mayo. Serve the pork alongside Farm Boy™ Guacamole for dipping or slice it up for tacos.
Dietary: Gluten Free
Suggested Farm Boy Products: Farm Boy™ Guacamole, Farm Boy™ Fresh Mild Salsa, Farm Boy™ Yellow Corn Tortillas.
