Rancho Gordo logo
This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

For orders or assistance: 1-800-599-8323

Simatlan Market in Oaxaca

I just came across these photos I took at the wonderful Simitlan tianguis and mercado in Oaxaca state. It was quite a long way from the city of Oaxaca but I think if you're a market-freak like me, it's more than worth it.

Mex_-368

These odd looking flowers are actually the flowers from the chocolate plant. Later I had a drink made from them. It was more of a gruel than anything else, actually.

Mex_-365

You can always count on eating well in a Mexican market.

Mex_-363

All over Oaxaca state, you can enjoy Tlayudas (sometimes called clayudas) which are something between a Oaxacan pizza and a burrito. There's a layer of asiento (pork drippings with little bits), refried beans, cheese and then a lot of different toppings. It's nothing short of super.

Mex_-390

You see the plate and think you can't possibly eat the whole thing and next thing you know you're wondering if it's possible to eat two.

Mex_-393

They're messy but worth it.

Mex_-387

I was at Simitlan with my friends Gabriel and Yunuen. It was unbelievably hot and we'd been driving for hours but the market was worth it. Most interesting for me were all the big ayocote (or runner) beans, which here are called Frijolon. This is a word I first saw in Alicia Gironella d'Angeli's seminal Larousse de la Cocina Mexicana and assumed it was a mistake. I was wrong.

Mex_-382

This vendor was selling the beautiful red flowers of the runner beans. If you eat them, they taste a lot like bean sprouts.

Mex_-369

Normally when I visit a market or a tianguis, I have to ask my traveling partners to wait a minute while I check some beans out. Believe it or not, not all have the same interest in beans!

Mex_-370

One of the many pleasures of traveling with Yunuen and Gabriel is that we are all on the same page. I remember seeing this woman and turned around to ask Gabriel to wait a minute. When I turned back around, he was already talking to her and asking her about the beans and harvest.

Mex_-374

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Cart

Congratulations! Your order qualifies for free shipping You are $ 50 away from FREE shipping.
No more products available for purchase