New Mexican cuisine is the regional cuisine of the Southwestern US state of New Mexico. It is known for its fusion of Pueblo Native American cuisine with Hispano Spanish and Mexican culinary traditions, rooted in the historical region of Nuevo MĂ©xico. This Southwestern culinary style extends it influence beyond the current boundaries of New Mexico, and is found throughout the old territories of Nuevo MĂ©xico and the New Mexico Territory, today the state of Arizona, parts of Texas (particularly El Paso County and the Panhandle), and the southern portions of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. New Mexican cuisine not only spans a broad Southwestern geographic area, but it is also a globally recognized ethnic cuisine, particularly for the Oasisamericans, Hispanos, and those connected to caballero cowboy culture or anyone originally from New Mexico.
The evolution of New Mexican cuisine reflects diverse influences over time. It was shaped early on by the Pueblo people, along with nearby Apache and Navajo culinary practices and the broader culinary traditions of New Spain and the Spanish Empire. Additional influences came from French, Italian, Portuguese, and other Mediterranean cuisines, which introduced new ingredients and techniques. Early European settlers also contributed with their bed and breakfasts and cafés, adding to the culinary landscape. During the American territorial phase, cowboy chuckwagons and Western saloons left their mark, followed by American diner culture along Route 66, Mexican-American cuisine, fast food, and global culinary trends after statehood in 1912.
